US aviation regulators are contemplating significant measures to restrict expansion at United Airlines Holdings Inc. in response to a series of safety incidents.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has engaged in discussions with United Airlines’ leadership regarding potential temporary actions in recent days. Among the measures under consideration are restrictions on new route additions and preventing the carrier from operating paying passengers on newly received aircraft. Additionally, the FAA is reportedly halting United’s authority to endorse and promote pilots for flying different aircraft models.
If implemented, these proposed restrictions would effectively halt the airline’s growth for an unspecified duration, highlighting the intensified scrutiny on commercial aviation safety, particularly following a recent near-disaster involving a Boeing Co. aircraft. The heightened focus on safety comes in the wake of several headline-grabbing incidents involving United Airlines since the start of the year.