The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has allowed United Airlines to continue receiving new aircraft deliveries despite an ongoing regulatory review of the airline following a series of safety incidents. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker confirmed the decision during a press briefing on Thursday, stating, “We are permitting them to take deliveries of aircraft. Most of those aircraft have been one-on-one replacements for missing aircraft,” and noting that some deliveries pertain to the airline’s expansion. “They have provided us with their growth plan, and we’re working with them on that growth plan going forward.”
This development comes even as some of United’s certification activities remain on hold. The FAA’s heightened scrutiny began in March, prompted by recent concerns over the airline’s safety practices. Further tightening oversight, the FAA announced earlier in the month that FAA personnel must be present during the final inspections of new aircraft that are intended to replace older models. This measure underscores the administration’s cautious approach to ensuring compliance with safety standards.
In response to the stringent oversight, United communicated to its staff on May 16 that the FAA was allowing the airline to resume the certification process. This move followed “a careful review and discussion about the proactive safety steps United has taken to date.”
However, the tightened regulatory oversight has had operational impacts. Last month, United postponed the launch of two new international routes, citing the ongoing pause in some certifications by the FAA. This decision reflects the broader challenges the airline faces as it navigates through the FAA’s Certificate Holder Evaluation Program—an assessment designed to verify compliance with safety regulations, effective hazard identification and risk mitigation, and competent safety management.
The FAA’s ongoing review, framed as a meticulous and safety-oriented scrutiny, has placed a spotlight on the imperative of robust safety protocols within the aviation industry, especially for carriers like United, navigating expansion while ensuring stringent safety compliance. As the FAA’s Certificate Management Office continues to monitor United’s adherence to safety norms, the timeline for completing this comprehensive evaluation remains dictated by safety imperatives, leaving some questions about United’s operational adjustments and future growth trajectory.