United Airlines adjusts fleet plans amid Boeing 737 MAX 10s certification delays

Monday, March 4, 2024

United Airlines has significantly revised its fleet expansion plans due to ongoing certification delays with the Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft. Initially slated to receive 80 Boeing 737 MAX 10s in 2024, the airline has now confirmed that it expects none of these deliveries within the stated timeframe. This update follows a series of setbacks related to Boeing’s quality control and certification issues, leading to United Airlines removing the 737 MAX 10 from its fleet plans for this year and beyond 2025.

This development was disclosed in a recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing, highlighting the airline’s shift in strategy due to the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the MAX 10’s certification process. The certification delays come in the wake of quality control concerns at Boeing, including an incident last month with an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9, where an exit door plug issue led to the grounding of certain MAX 9 aircraft. These issues have compounded the challenges Boeing faces, prompting United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby to express the need for the company to reevaluate its future fleet planning without the inclusion of the MAX 10 model.

United’s commitment to the 737 MAX 10 involves a total order of 277 aircraft, indicating the scale of potential adjustments to its fleet acquisition strategy. Despite the setback with the MAX 10, United Airlines continues to anticipate deliveries of other Boeing models, including the 737 MAX 8s, 9s, and 787 Dreamliners. The revised plan now expects 63 Boeing aircraft this year, down from the initially contracted 85.

The airline’s diversification strategy also includes significant commitments with Airbus, with more than 200 firm orders, including A321neos, of which 25 are expected this year. However, questions linger over the future of its A350 orders.

This adjustment in fleet strategy reflects United Airlines’ adaptability in the face of industry uncertainties and underscores the broader challenges facing Boeing as it works to resolve quality and certification issues. The airline’s pivot underscores the importance of flexibility in strategic planning within the highly dynamic aviation sector.

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