Current:Home > MyUnited asks pilots to take unpaid leave amid Boeing aircraft shipment delays-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
United asks pilots to take unpaid leave amid Boeing aircraft shipment delays
View Date:2024-12-23 14:52:18
United Airlines is asking pilots to voluntarily take unpaid leave because of reduced flight capacity stemming from delayed shipments of Boeing aircraft.
The delayed deliveries come after a slew of safety incidents involving United aircraft that have led the the Federal Aviation Administration to tighten its oversight of the airline.
"We can confirm that due to the recent delays in Boeing deliveries, our forecasted block hours for 2024 have been reduced and we are offering our pilots voluntary programs for the month of May to reduce excess staffing," United said in a statement to CBS News.
Currently, United expects to receive 102 fewer planes this year from Boeing, compared to its contract with the manufacturer.
The Air Line Pilots Association, the union representing pilots, said United is asking pilots to take unpaid leaves of absence in May and possibly through the summer, according to a memo shared with CBS News.
"Due to recent changes to our Boeing deliveries, the remaining 2024 forecast block hours for United have been significantly reduced," the union said in a statement.
Pilots can also opt to fly what is known in the industry as "Empty Line," meaning they request an empty schedule for a month, but may pick up flights if they become available. They would be paid for any flights they take.
Boeing has been grappling with the fallout from an incident in which a door panel on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max aircraft fell off mid-flight. A recent FAA investigation also raised questions about Boeing's manufacturing practices. And in a management shakeup, the company announced in March that CEO Dave Calhoun would step down at the end of 2024 after only four years at the helm.
Experts say Boeing's woes and the tight supply of aircraft could drive up prices for consumers ahead of the busy summer travel season.
— CBS News' Kris Van Cleave contributed reporting
- In:
- Boeing
- United Airlines
Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News Streaming to discuss her reporting.
veryGood! (54)
Related
- 15 new movies you'll want to stream this holiday season, from 'Emilia Perez' to 'Maria'
- H&R Block and other tax-prep firms shared consumer data with Meta, lawmakers say
- Judge Scales Back Climate Scientist’s Case Against Bloggers
- AbbVie's blockbuster drug Humira finally loses its 20-year, $200 billion monopoly
- Benny Blanco Reveals Selena Gomez's Rented Out Botanical Garden for Lavish Date Night
- How Shanna Moakler Reacted After Learning Ex Travis Barker Is Expecting Baby With Kourtney Kardashian
- The story of Monopoly and American capitalism
- Northern lights will be visible in fewer states than originally forecast. Will you still be able to see them?
- Falling scaffolding plank narrowly misses pedestrians at Boston’s South Station
- Russia has amassed a shadow fleet to ship its oil around sanctions
Ranking
- 'Climate change is real': New York parks employee killed as historic drought fuels blazes
- Lands Grabs and Other Destructive Environmental Practices in Cambodia Test the International Criminal Court
- Celebrity Makeup Artists Reveal the Only Lipstick Hacks You'll Ever Need
- There's no whiskey in bottles of Fireball Cinnamon, so customers are suing for fraud
- Tech consultant testifies that ‘bad joke’ led to deadly clash with Cash App founder Bob Lee
- Exploding California Wildfires Rekindle Debate Over Whether to Snuff Out Blazes in Wilderness Areas or Let Them Burn
- Ecuador’s High Court Affirms Constitutional Protections for the Rights of Nature in a Landmark Decision
- A big bank's big mistake, explained
Recommendation
-
15 new movies you'll want to stream this holiday season, from 'Emilia Perez' to 'Maria'
-
The return of Chinese tourism?
-
Larry Nassar was stabbed after making a lewd comment watching Wimbledon, source says
-
Tesla's profits soared to a record – but challenges are mounting
-
Advocates Expect Maryland to Drive Climate Action When Trump Returns to Washington
-
5 takeaways from the massive layoffs hitting Big Tech right now
-
Hollywood actors agree to federal mediation with strike threat looming
-
Hollywood actors agree to federal mediation with strike threat looming