United Airlines is reconsidering its fleet plans due to ongoing delays in the entry into service of the Boeing 737 MAX 10, as stated by the airline’s CEO. Additionally, the incident involving Alaska’s MAX 9 and the subsequent grounding of the model are testing the airline’s patience.
Scott Kirby, United’s CEO, did not hide his frustration with the manufacturer. For Kirby, the plane is delayed by five years “at best.” The MAX 10, the largest model of the aircraft, has not yet received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
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Kirby, in an interview with CNBC, pointed to “the MAX 9 grounding as the last straw. We will build a fleet plan that does not include the MAX 10, at least as a hypothetical alternative.” United has been awaiting its MAX 10s since at least August 2018. At that time, Kirby, then president of United, outlined cabin plans for the approximately 100 planes the company had ordered. The airline expected to fly them in 2020, intending to use them to replace older aircraft.
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Currently, United has 79 units of the Boeing 737 MAX 9 in its fleet, making it the airline with the highest number. The grounding of the type is expected to result in significant losses in the first fiscal quarter of this year.
However, Stan Deal, CEO of Commercial Aircraft for the company, stated in a release that they are “taking comprehensive measures to safely return the 737 MAX 9s to service and enhance our quality. We will support our customers every step of the way and comply with all FAA mandates.” The company provided no updates on the MAX 10 situation.
