United Airlines has opted to postpone the launch of two inaugural flights, attributing the decision to delays stemming from safety incidents recently flagged by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The airline has put on hold the commencement of a new route connecting Newark to Faro in Portugal’s Algarve region, as well as the route between Tokyo and Cebu in the Philippines, This postponement follows a pause on certain FAA certifications.
Originally slated to debut on May 24, the Portugal route, announced by United last year, was intended to operate four times weekly using a Boeing 757-200 aircraft. United disclosed that it now plans to launch this flight in the summer of 2025.
The direct flight between Tokyo and Cebu, initially scheduled to commence on July 31 with daily flights employing Boeing 737-800 aircraft, has been rescheduled to launch on Oct. 27.
The FAA initiated an investigation into United Airlines in response to several recent safety incidents, both in-flight and on the ground. These incidents included occurrences such as an aircraft panel detaching mid-flight, a wheel dislodging during takeoff, and an engine catching fire. The heightened scrutiny followed United’s discovery of loose bolts on its 737 MAX 9 aircraft subsequent to an incident involving a plug door panel on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 plane.
Last month, United’s CEO Scott Kirby reassured customers in a memo, stating, “Safety is our highest priority and is at the center of everything we do.”
While the international routes face delays, United intends to expand its operations domestically this summer, including the addition of new flights to national parks and outdoor destinations in Canada, along with the introduction of a new route to Anchorage, Alaska.