In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), United Airlines revealed The future of your fleethighlighting a challenging period marked by delivery delays and certification hurdles for specific aircraft models.
The background to this revelation is the incident involving Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 flightwhere the separation of the door exit cover led to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounding MAX 9 aircraft with a similar configuration.
Among the factors United described in the SEC document were cited as Major Challenges: Delays in issuing aircraft certificatesParticularly with regard to the 737 MAX 10, and increased FAA oversight of the aircraft production process.
for these problems Constant concerns about product quality accumulateThis caused the delivery of the Boeing 737 MAX and Boeing 787 Dreamliner to be postponed.
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See also: United's CEO is frustrated with Boeing and is considering changing his fleet plans
On the other side of the Atlantic, Airbus faces a similar situationwith Production restrictions and certification issues of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) affecting the A321XLR. This has led United Airlines to reevaluate its planned aircraft deliveries in the coming years.
United will not receive 103 planes in 2024
According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), United Airlines will not receive a total of 103 aircraft in 2024a significant decrease in relation 191 deliveries initially scheduled from Airbus and Boeing. This means only 88 aircraft, an average of 7 aircraft per month.
See also: United Airlines has ordered more than a hundred new aircraft from Airbus and Boeing
According to Cirium, United has significant backorders with delivery dates extending into 2031. These include 125 A321neo aircraft, 50 A321XLR aircraft, 45 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, and 353 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, along with 150 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
The document highlights United's contract with Boeing, which it originally expected to receive 80 Max 10 in 202471 in 2025 and 124 after 2025. However, the latest update indicates that The 737-10 will not be received for the foreseeable future. Although united You have not canceled MAX 10 ordersThe airline confirms the following: “Due to delays in obtaining certification of the 737 MAX 10, we cannot predict the exact date of delivery.”
In 2024, United has revised its forecast for MAX 8 deliveries From 47 to 37, and the rest in 2025. Max 9 deliveries They have been reduced from 34 to 19 this year, and the rest are postponed to next year.
Deliveries Boeing 787but, Was largely unaffected There were no major changes to the delivery schedule.
See also: United Airlines takes delivery of its first A321neo and begins bidding farewell to the 757
According to the document, Deliveries of the Airbus A321neo are also limitedSince only 24 of the 38 aircraft initially planned for 2025 are expected to arrive. Finally, although A321XLR It will enter service this year United expects to receive the first unit only at the end of the second half of 2025.
The significant challenges faced by United Airlines in overcoming the complexities described have opened the possibility of negotiating with manufacturers and leasing companies for new aircraft in the future.
