Fresno cooling down is good for Southwest Airlines (and their exploding soda cans)

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Fresno’s current run of triple-digit heat is close to ending with a cool-down forecast for the end of this week. It is good news for anyone growing weary of the warmth, which could include Southwest Airlines staff opening cans of soda mid-flight.

Southwest Airlines, which operates direct links from Fresno to Denver, Las Vegas and Dallas, has been dealing with exploding cans of soda. The Washington Post reports that at least 20 Southwest Airlines flight attendants have been injured this summer by soda cans that exploded as they were opening them.

Southwest Airlines does not serve perishable food, meaning cans of soda are enduring triple-digit heat before they are loaded onto the plane. According to YourCentralValley.com’s sister station YourErie.com , soda cans are liable to explode if they get too hot. Figures from the National Weather Service show temperatures at Fresno Yosemite International Airport in the triple-digits every day this week, with a high of 110 degrees Fahrenheit registered on Tuesday.

In a statement to YourCentralValley.com, Southwest says the airline is aware of the issue and has been taking steps to keep onboard beverages cooler, especially at airports experiencing extreme temperatures.

Airports where we have a large presence – such as Las Vegas, Phoenix and many in Texas – continue to receive record temperatures, with severe heat arriving earlier and persisting throughout the summer. For the Safety of our Employees and Customers, we are taking education and mitigation measures on all heat-related hazards.

Southwest

Southwest Airlines started flights from Fresno in April 2021 and is even celebrating its Fresno routes with a national competition to win a trip to the Central Valley .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.