United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has indicated that the airline will need to modify or cut its flight schedules if it cannot secure additional gates at its Newark, New Jersey hub.
This warning came after severe disruptions during the July Fourth holiday weekend, which led to significant flight delays. To compensate, United offered 30,000 frequent flyer miles to customers most affected.
Kirby described the past week as one of the most operationally challenging of his career. He emphasized the urgent need for more gates at Newark Liberty International Airport to prevent frequent aircraft backups.
Without these additional gates, further schedule adjustments will be necessary, especially during thunderstorm season. Details on specific schedule changes were not provided.
Following severe delays over the July Fourth weekend, United Airlines compensates affected passengers with 30,000 frequent flyer miles as part of its response to the operational challenges.Kirby also faced criticism after taking a private jet from Teterboro Airport while thousands of passengers were stranded. The initial disruptions were caused by thunderstorms over the East Coast, which affected major air traffic routes.
Although most airlines recovered, United struggled throughout the week, frustrating both passengers and staff. The issues were exacerbated by air traffic control problems, according to United and JetBlue executives.
The week was particularly busy, with the Transportation Security Administration screening nearly 2.89 million people on July 1, setting a new record.
United’s operations were severely impacted, with departures reduced by up to 75% during peak periods, leading to a cascade of delays and positioning problems for aircraft and crews.
Unions reported long delays for crew assignments and accommodations, citing a shortage of crew schedulers. Ken Diaz, president of the United chapter of the Association of Flight Attendants, noted that recent issues exposed gaps in crew scheduling.
Kirby stressed the need for improved platforms for crew management and called for increased investment in the FAA and air traffic control to prevent future delays and staffing issues. United’s performance during this period was notably worse than competitors, with nearly half of its flights arriving late and 15% canceled.