United Airlines exec says it may not get Boeing 737 MAX 10s until 2027 or '28

By David Shepardson

NEW YORK (Reuters) -United Airlines (UAL) whitethorn not instrumentality transportation of the Boeing (BA) 737 MAX 10 until 2027 oregon 2028 due to the fact that of uncertainty astir erstwhile the level volition beryllium approved for use, an enforcement for the bearer said Tuesday.

Boeing has faced important delays successful getting the smaller MAX 7 certified, which indispensable hap earlier the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration tin past certify the larger MAX 10.

United Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella told reporters connected the sidelines of an lawsuit that the hose is taking MAX 9 airplanes arsenic it waits for the certification of the 10.

"In proviso concatenation terms, we privation to marque definite we get our craft truthful we've committed to the MAX 9," Nocella said. "Until we cognize the MAX 10 is going to beryllium delivered, we don't privation to person an craft that doesn't arrive."

Nocella said United whitethorn not execute its earlier extremity of being 1 of the archetypal transportation customers for the MAX 10.

"We privation to spot the craft certified earlier we marque the steadfast committedness to person our 9s to 10s."

Boeing did not instantly comment.

In 2017, United made a large bid of the MAX 10, which is larger and tin transportation much passengers. The 737 is Boeing's top-selling airliner. The FAA has presently capped accumulation of the MAX astatine 38 planes per period aft a 2024 mid-air emergency.

The FAA indispensable o.k. an motor de-icing hole for the MAX 7 earlier it tin certify the level aft Boeing successful January 2024 withdrew a waiver request.

Alaska Airlines (ALK) told Reuters past twelvemonth it did not expect to person 737 MAX 10 airplanes until astatine slightest mid-2026.

Nocella said determination is nary extremity successful show to proviso concatenation issues connected engines and different parts.

The caller 787-9 with updated interior "should person been announced six months ago" but for proviso concatenation problems, helium said, adding: "I don't person a crystal ball, I can't archer you erstwhile it's going to beryllium fixed."

(Reporting by David ShepardsonEditing by Nick Zieminski and David Gregorio)