Aviation Daily Roundup: Dec. 17

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.

Boeing, citing “uncertainty” in when the 737 MAX will be cleared to return to service as a key factor, will suspend 737 production in January 2020, the company said Dec. 16.

Copa Airlines plans to densify its Boeing 737-800s starting in 2021 and will add a net total of three airframes in 2020 as it catches up on 737 MAX deliveries and continues retiring its Embraer E190s.

Lufthansa and Munich Airport operator Flughafen München GmbH (FMG) plan to intensify their strategic cooperation in the sustainable development of the Star Alliance carrier’s Munich hub.

All-Boeing operator Icelandair has pushed back its planning for the Boeing 737 MAX’s return to operational service by five months to May 2020, prompting a delayed phase-out of some of its 757s.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced it will launch commercial flights to Brussels, Belgium, starting Oct. 25, 2020.

Alitalia’s new special commissioner Giuseppe Leogrande met with Italy’s economic development minister Stefano Patuanelli and union representatives Dec. 17 in a bid to find a way forward for the Italian flag carrier, which filed for bankruptcy two-and-a-half years ago.

Nigerian startup Green Africa Airways has appointed former Air Italy COO Neil Mills as president and COO, as the airline progresses toward a planned 2020 launch.