By Rajesh Kumar Singh
CHICAGO (Reuters) -United Airlines on Monday warned that delays in aircraft deliveries from Boeing would leave it overstaffed as it will impact its aircraft utilization this year.
As a result, the Chicago-based carrier said it is offering voluntary programs to its pilots next month to reduce excess staffing. It declined to share the details of the programs.
“We can confirm that due to the recent delays in Boeing deliveries, our forecasted block hours for 2024 have been reduced,” United said.
The airline industry has cut expectations for deliveries this year due to Boeing’s problems, complicating efforts to meet record travel demand.
Boeing has been under heavy regulatory scrutiny following a harrowing Jan. 5 Alaska Airlines mid-flight panel blowout that led to probes into the company’s safety and quality standards in its production process.
Last week, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun announced he would leave by the end of the year, while the company’s long-time head of commercial airplanes, Stan Deal, retired effectively immediately and the board chair Larry Kellner stepped down and was replaced as chair by director Steve Mollenkopf.
(Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
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