United Airlines has reported a significant hit to its earnings, blaming a mid-flight blowout incident that forced the grounding of Boeing planes. The three-week grounding of 737 Max 9 jets following an incident on an Alaska Airlines flight contributed to a $124 million loss in the first quarter of the year. The airline stated that it would have reported a profit without this disruption.
In total, 171 Boeing 737 Max 9s were temporarily grounded after the Alaska Airlines incident, with United Airlines grounding 79 Max 9 aircraft during this period, the most of any carrier. Alaska Airlines has reportedly received $160 million in compensation due to the plane grounding.
In a related development, a whistleblower has claimed that Boeing’s 787 Dreamliners are at risk of premature failure and called for a global grounding of these aircraft. However, Boeing has expressed confidence in the safety of the 787 Dreamliner and denied the criticisms of its structural integrity.
Due to FAA restrictions, United Airlines will receive 25% fewer aircraft this year, leading the company’s CEO to adjust the fleet plan to reflect manufacturing delays. This has caused a pause in pilot hiring and the offering of voluntary unpaid leave to employees.
These recent events have highlighted the challenges facing major airlines and aircraft manufacturers in ensuring the safety and reliability of their fleets. United Airlines and Boeing are now working to address these issues and restore confidence in their operations.
