United Airlines Requests Pilots to Take Unpaid Leave Amid Boeing Delivery Delays

United Airlines is asking its pilots to take unpaid time off in May due to Boeing manufacturing delays, resulting in reduced forecasted block hours for 2024. The carrier's anticipated 77 Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 jet deliveries have been reduced to 56, with no Max 10 deliveries expected this year. Safety concerns surrounding Boeing's 737 Max continue to impact its customers, as the FAA investigates an incident involving an Alaska Airlines Max 9. United has paused pilot hiring and plans to slow its pace of hiring in 2024 due to the ongoing delays at Boeing.