United Airlines jets at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

United Airlines jets at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

With 737 MAX grounded, United Airlines trims growth plan

The airline said it expects to cancel 130 flights in April because of the parked Boeing planes.

  • By DAVID KOENIG AP Airlines Writer
  • Thursday, April 18, 2019 5:35am
  • Business

By David Koenig / Associated Press

The grounding of Boeing 737 MAX jets is causing United Airlines to trim growth plans for this year, and the carrier expects to discuss potential compensation with Boeing.

United claims to be managing the grounding relatively well by pressing spare jets into duty and delaying discretionary maintenance work on other planes.

That approach, however, comes with extra costs. Sometimes the airline uses bigger and less-fuel-efficient two-aisle jets to replace the missing single-aisle MAX on domestic routes.

United has 14 MAX planes in its fleet, and airline executives said Wednesday they don’t expect those jets back before July. They said some of the 16 additional MAX jets they expected to get this year might be delayed.

“Obviously there are some costs that we have been incurring and continue to incur,” Chief Financial Officer Gerry Laderman said on a call with analysts and reporters. “We’ll have a conversation with Boeing and I expect, like we always do, to resolve whatever that conversation is in a way that works for both of us.”

United declined to give a figure for its extra costs.

The Boeing jetliner has been grounded around the world since mid-March after two crashes killed 346 people. Investigators are focusing on anti-stall software that pushed the planes’ noses down based on erroneous sensor readings.

Boeing is working on a software update and training program for pilots that will highlight differences between the MAX and previous versions of the 737, the best-selling airliner in history.

The company reported Wednesday that its first quarter profit doubled to $292 million on more passenger traffic and strong cost controls. Shares climbed $4.07, or 4.8 percent, to close at $89.24.

United said it expects to cancel 130 flights in April because of the parked Boeing planes.

That is far less than Southwest Airlines, which has 34 MAX planes, and American Airlines, which has 24. Those two airlines say they are scrapping about 90 flights a day.

Still, the missing MAX planes account for 1.4% of United’s passenger-carrying capacity. Uncertain how long the planes will be lost, United cut its planned 2019 growth from about 5% to 4.5% heading into the crucial summer travel season.

Executives said they are covering most MAX flights by using spare jets and deferring maintenance jobs such as WiFi installations and paint jobs on other planes — not safety-related items, they said.

United has no plans to require pilots to train in MAX flight simulators. No U.S. airline yet owns one of the scarce machines.

Chief Operations Officer Gregory Hart said United has long trained its Boeing pilots how to respond to the type of nose-down pitch that led to the October crash in Indonesia and the March crash in Ethiopia.

“That is why we have consistently reiterated our confidence in the ability of United pilots to safely operate United MAX aircraft,” he said.

A group of technical experts appointed by the Federal Aviation Administration has said pilots should get more training about the anti-stall system on the MAX, but that training does not need to be done in flight simulators — it could be done on computers or in classrooms.

———

David Koenig can be reached at http://twitter.com/airlinewriter

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Business

Lily Lamoureux stacks Weebly Funko toys in preparation for Funko Friday at Funko Field in Everett on July 12, 2019.  Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Everett-based Funko ousts its CEO after 14 months

The company, known for its toy figures based on pop culture, named Michael Lunsford as its interim CEO.

The livery on a Boeing plane. (Christopher Pike / Bloomberg)
Former Lockheed Martin CFO joins Boeing as top financial officer

Boeing’s Chief Financial Officer is being replaced by a former CFO at… Continue reading

Izaac Escalante-Alvarez unpacks a new milling machine at the new Boeing machinists union’s apprentice training center on Friday, June 6, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Boeing Machinists union training center opens in Everett

The new center aims to give workers an inside track at Boeing jobs.

Some SnoCo stores see shortages after cyberattack on grocery supplier

Some stores, such as Whole Foods and US Foods CHEF’STORE, informed customers that some items may be temporarily unavailable.

People take photos and videos as the first Frontier Arlines flight arrives at Paine Field Airport under a water cannon salute on Monday, June 2, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Water cannons salute Frontier on its first day at Paine Field

Frontier Airlines joins Alaska Airlines in offering service Snohomish County passengers.

Amit B. Singh, president of Edmonds Community College. 201008
Edmonds College and schools continue diversity programs

Educational diversity programs are alive and well in Snohomish County.

A standard jet fuel, left, burns with extensive smoke output while a 50 percent SAF drop-in jet fuel, right, puts off less smoke during a demonstration of the difference in fuel emissions on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sustainable aviation fuel center gets funding boost

A planned research and development center focused on sustainable aviation… Continue reading

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, on display on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval

Helion CEO applauds legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson expected to streamline site selection process.

Britney Barber, owner of Everett Improv. Barber performs a shows based on cuttings from The Everett Herald. Photographed in Everett, Washington on May 16, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
August 9 will be the last comedy show at Everett Improv

Everett improv club closing after six years in business.

Pharmacist John Sontra and other employees work on calling customers to get their prescriptions transferred to other stores from the Bartell Drugs Pharmacy on Hoyt Avenue on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bartell Drugs location shutters doors in Everett

John Sontra, a pharmacist at the Hoyt Avenue address for 46 years, said Monday’s closure was emotional.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.