United Airlines expects to receive from Boeing 102 fewer new aircraft in 2024 than contractually agreed, forcing the airline to recalculate its fleet plan and delivery expectations for the coming years. The Chicago-based carrier said in a 29 February filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it is now counting on the US manufacturer to deliver 63 aircraft to it in 2024, rather than the 165 it had previously been banking on. Those delivery delays, United says, are a major risk to its ability to execute its “United Next” fleet transformation initiative, and to its overall operation. The delays come as Boeing deals with numerous quality issues involving its 737 Max, for which the FAA has put the manufacturer on notice. United, for its part, has said it is looking for means of heading off the impact of receiving fewer new jets, such as by relying more on other types and by delaying aircraft retirements. “If [United] is unable to acquire additional aircraft at acceptable prices from Boeing or Airbus, or if Boeing or Airbus fails to make timely deliveries of aircraft… or to provide adequate support for its products, including with respect to the aircraft subject to firm orders under our United Next plan, the company’s operations could be materially and adversely affected,” United says. United’s purchase contracts with Boeing call for the airline to welcome 80 new 737 Max 10 to its fleet in 2024, 71 in 2025 and 126 in the following years through 2033. United has now struck all those figures from its fleet plan, saying, “Due to the delay in the certification of the 737 Max 10 aircraft, we are unable to accurately forecast the expected delivery period”.<br/>
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A United Airlines flight traveling from London to Newark, New Jersey, diverted to Bangor International Airport because of unruly passengers on Friday, airline officials said. The two passengers who appeared to be intoxicated became disruptive, and both were removed from United Airlines Flight 883 upon landing late Friday morning in Bangor, the spokesperson said. They will be banned from future flights while the matter is reviewed, the spokesperson said. The plane, which originally had 150 passengers, later completed its trip to New Jersey. Bangor Police Department officers were among those greeting the Boeing 767 when it landed. Two passengers were removed, and one of them was detained and charged with assault and interfering with a flight crew and assault, according to court documents. An FBI affidavit indicated the passenger became combative after the flight crew intervened when he was loudly arguing with his girlfriend, and that the passenger continued to be combative and physically aggressive after being restrained with plastic “flex cuffs.” The government requested that the passenger be held pending a detention hearing.<br/>
The Ministry of Transport of the Government of National Unity announced on Sunday the resumption of the EgyptAir flights to Misrata International Airport after a 10-year hiatus. The Ministry expected that EgyptAir would continue to operate its flights on a regular basis, with one flight per week. EgyptAir resumed its first air cargo flights to Misrata International Airport in October last year.<br/>
Japan’s two biggest airlines announced plans to recruit more than 3,700 new employees in the fiscal year ending in March 2025 to meet the continued demand that began after the Covid pandemic ended. ANA Holdings Inc. kicked-off its recruitment process for about 2,900 new hires, including cabin attendants, pilots, and information technology engineers across 37 affiliated companies. The country’s largest carrier said it aims to hire 200 people more than last year. Japan Airlines said it is hiring 700 flight attendants, along with 50 pilots and some 100 staff members for business planning. Business is booming as the weak yen spurs the arrival of more foreign visitors, even as local demand for international trips and domestic routes remains high. In Japan, many companies officially start recruiting in March, with newly hired employees joining in April of the following year to coordinate with the beginning of the fiscal year. ANA raised its operating profit guidance for the current fiscal year by about 35% to Y190b ($1.3b), while JAL’s Q3 net income of Y24.2b beat the average analyst estimate. <br/>