United Airlines wants its pilots to take voluntary time off in May due to delays in ordering new planes from Boeing. The company is facing production challenges due to manufacturing issues.
Due to recent delays in Boeing deliveries, projected flight hours have been reduced. As a result, spokesperson Leslie Scott said the company offers a voluntary program to pilots for May to manage excess staffing. United Airlines conveyed in a note to pilots obtained by The Associated Press that it anticipates making similar requests throughout the summer and potentially into the fall.
The Airline Pilots Association stated that United is providing options for short-term leaves and unpaid time off but emphasized that these measures are voluntary and not mandatory. Boeing declined to comment on the matter.
Boeing Jetliners' Anticipated Delays
United Airlines does not anticipate receiving all the Boeing jetliners it ordered and was supposed to receive this year or next. A month ago, United mentioned that it was contractually obligated to receive 191 planes this year and 127 next year, but it expects to receive only 88 this year and 64 in 2025.
The majority of the shortfall concerns Boeing 737 Max planes, including a new and larger model. United had intended to commence operations with 80 Max 10 jets this year. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not yet certified the Max 10, and further delays are expected due to heightened scrutiny of Boeing, particularly following an incident involving an Alaska Airlines Max 9 in January. United is exploring alternatives to replace orders for the Max 10.
The Alaska Airlines Incident
Following the Alaska Airlines incident, federal regulators launched investigations into Boeing's production quality concerns. As a result, the FAA has prohibited Boeing from ramping up production of 737 Max jets.
United Airlines had previously indicated that it anticipated a financial loss in the first quarter due to the grounding of its Max 9s for inspections, which lasted three weeks following the incident with the Alaska plane. The Chicago-based airline is set to announce its financial results on April 16.
Pressures Mount on Leadership Shakeup
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun declared last week that he would resign at the end of the year. This move occurred just two months after the Alaska blowout incident, which left the company under significant pressure from airline executives due to concerns about quality control problems and delivery delays.
Kirby has emerged as one of Boeing's most outspoken critics. During an interview with CNBC on January 23, Kirby stated that United was developing alternative plans for its fleet without the Max 10, saying, "We're gonna at least build a plan that doesn't have the Max 10 in it."
Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci expressed his frustration with Boeing regarding the blowout incident, where a door plug suddenly fell off a Max 9 mid-air. He stated in an interview for NBC News' Nightly News With Lester Holt that he was angry about the incident, emphasizing its impact on Alaska Airlines, its passengers, and its employees, and demanded improvements in Boeing's in-house quality programs through a significant leadership overhaul to Boeing's board of directors.
In a statement, Boeing said it is squarely focused on implementing changes to bolster quality across the production system and ensuring the delivery of high-quality airplanes that meet all regulatory requirements. Boeing is committed to taking the necessary time to achieve these standards. Boeing has also stayed in close contact with customers to inform them about these issues and take action to address them.
