CHICAGO- United Airlines (UA) is requesting pilots to consider taking unpaid time off next month, attributing the delay in aircraft arrivals from Boeing, as stated in a communication sent to pilots.
This development underscores how Boeing’s production challenges and safety issues affect its customers’ growth strategies.
United Pilots Unpaid Leave
The proposal comes after United and other airlines had been actively recruiting more pilots in response to the surge in demand following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic travel downturn.
In a note to members on Friday, the United chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association, the pilots’ union, conveyed, “Due to recent adjustments in our Boeing deliveries, the projected block hours for United in 2024 have been significantly reduced. While the delivery issues primarily pertain to our 787 and 737 fleets, the repercussions will extend to other aircraft fleets.”
United Airlines has confirmed the request for voluntary unpaid time off. Earlier, the airline had announced a halt in pilot hiring for this spring due to delayed aircraft arrivals from Boeing, as reported by CNBC last month.
The union anticipates that United will extend offers for additional time off “for the summer bid periods and potentially into the fall.”
In February, United disclosed in a company filing that it was initially slated to receive 43 Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes and 34 Max 9 models this year. However, the revised projections indicate it will receive 37 and 19, respectively.
The airline had also expected deliveries of 80 Max 10s this year and 71 next year. However, due to the model not yet being certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, United removed them from the delivery schedule, citing the inability to accurately forecast the expected delivery period, as stated in the filing.
Management Change at Boeing
United CEO Scott Kirby has been notably outspoken about the production challenges and delivery setbacks Boeing faces.
Most recently, he addressed the crisis arising from a door plug incident on a nearly new Boeing 737 Max 9, which occurred during an Alaska Airlines flight at approximately 16,000 feet.
Last week, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun announced his intention to step down at the end of the year as part of a comprehensive leadership restructuring. This shake-up also involved the departure of the board chairman and the head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes unit.
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