Southwest Airlines Expects To Take Delivery Of 35 737 MAX Jets Through End Of 2021

By Dave Simpson
Southwest Airlines Expects To Take Delivery Of 35 737 MAX Jets Through End Of 2021

Southwest Airlines Co has said that it expects to take delivery of 35 737 MAX aircraft from Boeing Co through the end of 2021.

The deliveries include 16 leased aircraft, the US carrier said, adding that it expects the MAX to return to revenue service in March after all active pilots have received updated, MAX-related training.

"Given the continued surge in COVID-19 cases and depressed revenue environment, the company continues to experience softness in leisure passenger demand and bookings for December 2020," Southwest said in a regulatory filing.

The company also flagged elevated levels of trip cancellations for December travel.

Daily Cash Burn

Southwest now expects its average daily core cash burn to be approximately $12 million in the fourth quarter, up from a previous estimate of between $10 million and $11 million.

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Several US airlines have raised their daily cash burn forecast due to this year's coronavirus-related collapse in travel, as a batch of new lockdowns and advisories discourage Christmas and New Year flying.

News by Reuters, edited by Hospitality Ireland. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.