• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » United Airlines » FAA Says It Has Not Cleared United Airlines To Certify New Aircraft, Launch New Routes
NewsUnited Airlines

FAA Says It Has Not Cleared United Airlines To Certify New Aircraft, Launch New Routes

Matthew Klint Posted onMay 17, 2024May 17, 2024 7 Comments

a plane flying in the sky

UPDATE: Disputing internal reports at United Airlines, the FAA has indicated that it has not given the green light for United Airlines to restart certification activities.

“The FAA has not approved any expansion of United Airlines’ routes or fleets.”

The FAA added that United’s mandatory participation in the Certificate Holder Evaluation Program “is ongoing and safety will determine the timeline for completing it.”

United has thus far not explained why its earlier communication suggested that it had been to cleared to resume such activities.

The original story, published on May 16, 2024, is below.


The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given United Airlines the green light to restart new aircraft certification and to launch new routes in a major step forward for the carrier.

United Airlines Will Restart Certification Activities, Including New Aircraft And Routes

In March, after a string of unrelated maintenance-related incidents made headlines around the world, the FAA decided to take “an even closer look at multiple areas” of United’s operations. In a memo to employees at the time,  United suggested a “variety” of certification activities would be suspended for an unspecified period of time:

As part of this effort, the FAA will also pause a variety of certification activities for a period of time. Those activities will differ depending on the work group and we will learn more from the FAA about that soon.

It was later revealed that the pause of certification activities included new aircraft deliveries and new routes.

But that suspension will now be lifted. A note to employees that went out yesterday evening and was reviewed by Live And Let’s Fly notes that United has been cleared to “begin the process of restarting our certification activities.”

Today, we got some good news: after a careful review and discussion about the proactive safety steps United has taken to date, our FAA Certificate Management Office has allowed us to begin the process of restarting our certification activities, including new aircraft and routes, and we will continue to coordinate closely with the FAA.

Of course “begin the process of restarting our certification activities” could be a very different matter than saying United can now restart certification activities effective immediately. But a source inside United tells Live And Let’s Fly that the suspension has been effectively lifted.

This news, however, does not mean that the increased FAA presence will disappear:

Importantly though, our work with the FAA continues. There is more work to do, and we remain open to their perspective on things that can make us an even safer airline. That means we will continue to see an FAA presence in our operation as they review our work processes, manuals and facilities.

The work continues.

CONCLUSION

United Airlines will soon be able to certify aircraft and launch new routes once again after a two-month pause. Even so, the FAA will continue to exercise increased scrutiny over United’s operations for the foreseeable future.


> Read More: United Airlines Faces Increased Government Oversight, Certification Delays


image: United Airlines

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article Great Coffee In Seattle
Next Article American Airlines Pilot Acts Swiftly To Avoid Disaster After ATC Snafu

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • United Flight Attendants Tentative Deal

    At Long Last, United Airlines Reaches Tentative Labor Deal With Flight Attendants

    May 24, 2025
  • a woman looking at a man

    He Flirted On A United Flight…Then Let Her Walk Away

    May 23, 2025
  • Jon Gooda United Airlines Newark

    United Airlines Promises Smoother Summer Travel At Newark After Weeks of Delays

    May 23, 2025

7 Comments

  1. Gene Reply
    May 16, 2024 at 6:54 am

    @ Matthew — Who’s premium, now?! 😉 World’s biggest operator of POS 767s or world’s only operator of Polaris?

  2. JoeMart Reply
    May 16, 2024 at 9:53 am

    Is this why UA canceled LAX to Brisbane and Auckland routes?

  3. Jonbargani Reply
    May 16, 2024 at 12:12 pm

    FAA LACKS the expertise to competently do the job they’re supposed to do! They operate totally through fear of being called out and “blamed” for that incompetence. It’s a big reason why they won’t certify the 737-10 MAX and 777X aircraft. FAA is the most incompetent agency in government, and that’s with PLENTY of competition for that title!

  4. Pamela Price Reply
    May 16, 2024 at 3:10 pm

    I recently experienced United Airlines Frst class flight between Washington DC and Athens Greece. It was flawless.

  5. Jason B Reply
    May 16, 2024 at 4:35 pm

    FAA is saying it has not authorized United anything! Someone is lying

    https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/faa-allows-united-airlines-restart-certification-activities-2024-05-16/

  6. Stuart Reply
    May 17, 2024 at 1:31 am

    I’m fascinated by Ben at OMAAT pontificating that UA has many Captains in their 20’s flying wide bodies. And we wonder how hysteria spreads?

  7. sunviking82 Reply
    May 17, 2024 at 11:01 am

    I am thinking UA is the bad party here. Having delt with them in the past as a client of mine, they are about the most disfunctional group I’ve ever worked with and dishonest with the vendors as well as their employees. Culture of Lying, not flying!

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for May

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • Thompson Miami Beach courtesy of Hyatt Hotels-Two-Queen-Beds-With-Balcony
    Sneak Peek At The Thompson Miami Beach (Opens Fall 2025) May 25, 2025
  • Motion Sickness Uber
    I Used To Get So Much Done In Ubers. Now I Just Try Not To Puke. May 24, 2025
  • American Airlines Flagship Lounge Philadelphia
    Premium Progress: American Airlines Flagship Lounge Opens In Philadelphia (PHL) May 24, 2025
  • United Flight Attendants Tentative Deal
    At Long Last, United Airlines Reaches Tentative Labor Deal With Flight Attendants May 24, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • a room with a table and benches
    Where To Smoke At Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) April 26, 2025
  • United Airlines Polaris Lounge Chicago Review
    Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago (ORD) May 1, 2025
  • United Airlines Refresh Polaris Lounge Chicago
    First Look: United Airlines Reopens Renovated Polaris Lounge In Chicago (ORD) April 29, 2025
  • a hand holding a blue card
    Chase Sapphire Preferred 100K Bonus Offer Ending Soon May 2, 2025

Archives

May 2025
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Apr    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.