Southwest Airlines has said it will slash its June flight activity by around 50% year-over-year to contend with the demand drop associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Southwest Airlines announced plans to trim capacity by 20% in April and May, citing a “dramatic decline” in net bookings caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing government travel restrictions.
Southwest Airlines is projecting a $200-300 million first-quarter operating-revenue shortfall due to a sudden dip in bookings that the airline is linking to COVID-19.
Southwest Airline’s launch of operations to Hawaii in 2019 has reaped big gains for the flying public, as higher travel demand has led to falling fares, Southwest president Tom Nealon said on the company’s recent 2019 fourth quarter (Q4) earnings call.
Adding simulator training to Boeing’s latest projected 737 MAX certification time frame could push Southwest Airlines’ next MAX revenue flights into the 2020 fourth quarter, estimates laid out by the airline’s executives show.
Southwest Airlines will not resume commercial Boeing 737 MAX operations until June 6, bringing its schedule into line with fellow U.S.-based MAX operators American Airlines and United Airlines.
American, Delta and United moved quickly to add nonstop flights from South Carolina to New Orleans so Clemson University football fans can watch their team square off against Louisiana State University.
Southwest Airlines says fourth-quarter (Q4) unit revenue will be flat up to 2% year-over-year on the strength of solid bookings and yield trends, likely boosted by ongoing capacity pressure created by the 737 MAX groundings, the carrier reported.
