United Airlines Offers Pilots Voluntary Time Off Amid Boeing Delivery Delays
United Airlines is reaching out to its pilots with an offer for voluntary time off in May 2024 due to unforeseen delays in the delivery of new Boeing aircraft, attributing the bottleneck to production challenges at Boeing. The spokesperson for United, Leslie Scott, confirmed that this move is a response to the adjusted flight hours forecasted as a result of these delays, emphasizing the voluntary nature of the program.
In a communication with pilots, United Airlines indicated that it might extend similar offers through the summer and potentially into the fall, reflecting the ongoing impact of Boeing’s production issues on its operational plans.
The Air Line Pilots Association has clarified that the offers include short-term leaves and unpaid time off but stressed that participation is optional for pilots.
Boeing has chosen not to comment on the situation.
The delivery delays significantly affect United’s fleet expansion plans, with the airline expecting to miss a substantial portion of its Boeing orders for this and the following year. Originally slated to receive 191 planes in the current year and 127 in the next, revised expectations have been adjusted to 88 aircraft for this year and 64 for 2025. The majority of these delays involve the Boeing 737 Max series, particularly the yet-to-be FAA-certified Max 10 model, which United had anticipated incorporating into its operations with 80 jets this year.
In light of these challenges and the recent FAA decision to halt Boeing’s 737 Max production increase following a serious incident with an Alaska Airlines Max 9, United is exploring alternatives for the Max 10 orders.
The backdrop of these operational adjustments includes United’s announcement of expected financial losses for the first quarter, partially due to a three-week grounding of its Max 9 fleet for inspections after the Alaska Airlines incident. Financial results for the quarter are scheduled for release on April 16.
United’s CEO, Scott Kirby, alongside other airline executives, has voiced concerns regarding Boeing’s ongoing issues, advocating for a meeting with Boeing’s board members. This call for engagement comes amid Boeing’s announcement of CEO David Calhoun’s end-of-year departure and other significant leadership changes within the company.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, yahoo.com