United Airlines pauses new pilot hires on Boeing production delays (UAL)

Boeing’s (BA) production delays continue to plague the airline industry as United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) is pausing new pilot hires in the absence of additional aircraft.

In a memo to its pilots the carrier said it will “slow the pace of pilot hires this year due to continued aircraft certification delay and manufacturing delays at Boeing.” The lack of new planes has prevented United (UAL) from reaching its 2024 expansion goals. United (UAL) currently has orders with Boeing (BA) for 277 MAX aircraft with the option for an additional 200.

United (UAL) was recently rumored to be looking to Airbus (OTCPK:EADSY) to replace 737 MAX orders it has with Boeing (BA), currently at least five years behind schedule. The airline hopes to obtain production slots that were vacated by JetBlue (JBLU) and Spirit (SAVE).

In the memo, executives tasked with flight operations and development said the carrier had contractual deliveries for 80 MAX 10s this year alone “but those aircraft aren’t even certified yet and it is impossible to know when they will arrive.”