In January, deliveries of the 787 jets were expected to finally resume in April, but now the timestamp has been pushed back to May, and likely longer, according to the sources.

The decision marks the first relaxation of major COVID-19 restrictions for travel in the US after almost two years of upholding the federal mandate, and many airlines have welcomed the decision. 

The news coincides with New Zealand’s borders finally lifting to Australians for the first time on Tuesday since the trans-Tasman bubble was paused last July.

The Southwest Airlines Pilot Association (SWAPA), which represents over 10,000 Southwest pilots, said fatigue has become the Dallas-based carrier’s “number one safety threat”, and its leaders are yet to address the issue. 

The airline signed a Letter of Intent in December 2021 for the aircraft, and has now converted it into a firm order, with purchase rights for an additional four jets, according to the company.

According to the main travel hub’s March statistics, it saw 4.1 million passengers filter through the airport, a major increase from the 0.5 million during the same time last year.