United Airlines Braces For More 737 MAX Delays In Second Quarter

United Airlines 737 MAX
Credit: Boeing

United Airlines’ already lengthy list of Boeing delivery delays has grown after the manufacturer informed the airline that six aircraft scheduled for delivery this quarter will not arrive as planned.  

Chicago-based United disclosed the delays in a recent regulatory filing, explaining that Boeing notified it that “due to a manufacturing process issue relating to certain Boeing 737 MAX fuselages” deliveries of the six 737-8s scheduled for the 2023 second quarter would occur later than expected. 

The airline said Boeing may inform United that additional 737-8s scheduled for delivery in the third quarter may be delayed and certain MAX jets United currently expects to take delivery of this year could move into 2024. 

“At this time, we do not expect these delays to be extensive or to have a significant impact on our capacity plan for 2023,” United said. 

United took delivery of 21 737 MAX narrowbodies in the first quarter (Q1), second only to Southwest Airlines’ 29, Aviation Week Network’s Fleet Discovery database shows.  

The full scope of delivery-timing ramifications from the newest 737 MAX issue—non-compliant vertical stabilizer attachment fittings—are not clear. 

Boeing CEO David Calhoun, speaking at the company’s annual general meeting April 18, suggested the issue could lead to delivery delays for as many as 50 aircraft in the next several months. The company has not changed its full-year guidance for 400-450 737 program deliveries. In Q1, the company delivered 130 commercial aircraft, including 111 737 MAXs.

United has previously disclosed that 37 MAX jets scheduled for delivery in 2023 have slipped to 2024. In February, the airline estimated an additional six jets originally scheduled for delivery in 2023 would move to 2024. The airline’s most recent filing regarding its fleet projections now states it estimates an additional 11 MAX jets pegged for delivery in 2023 will now be pushed to 2024. 

At the end of 2022, United had firm commitments for 433 MAX aircraft.

Lori Ranson

Lori covers North American and Latin airlines for Aviation Week and is also a Senior Analyst for CAPA - Centre for Aviation.

Sean Broderick

Senior Air Transport & Safety Editor Sean Broderick covers aviation safety, MRO, and the airline business from Aviation Week Network's Washington, D.C. office.