United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) will hire fewer employees than initially planned for 2024 due to delays in aircraft deliveries from Boeing (NYSE:BA), according to a company executive.
Kate Gebo, United’s head of human resources and labor relations, announced that the airline now expects to hire around 10,000 new employees in 2024, down from the previously anticipated 13,000 to 15,000.
Since January, United Airlines has added 4,000 new team members, including over 800 pilots and more than 600 flight attendants, Gebo reported. She noted, “Our hiring efforts are directly linked to our aircraft orders and operational growth.”
In 2023, the airline hired 16,000 new employees.
As a major customer of Boeing, United Airlines has been impacted by the planemaker’s safety issues, which have led Boeing to reduce its total aircraft delivery estimates for this year by 25%, down to 66 jets.
The aircraft delays have decreased United’s aircraft utilization, resulting in overstaffing. To manage this, United paused pilot hiring and offered voluntary unpaid leave to its pilots. However, the company confirmed on Tuesday that it has resumed pilot hiring.
Featured Image: Wikipedia
