United Airlines has announced a reduction in its expected aircraft deliveries for this year, in response to Boeing's ongoing quality crisis. The airline now expects to receive just 61 new narrow-body planes in 2022, down from the initial projection of 101. Furthermore, contracts for as many as 183 planes in 2024 have been affected.

CEO Scott Kirby stated, "We've adjusted our fleet plan to better reflect the reality of what the manufacturers are able to deliver." United aims to use the available planes to capitalize on growth opportunities at its mid-continent hubs and expand its highly profitable international network from coastal hubs.

To compensate for the limitations imposed by the Boeing crisis, United has opted to lease 35 Airbus A321neo jets in 2026 and 2027. This decision marks the airline's shift towards Boeing's rival, taking advantage of the limitations Boeing faces in production and increased federal scrutiny.

In addition to grappling with aircraft delivery delays, United faces a safety review by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which has hindered the carrier's planned growth. As a result, the airline has been forced to postpone services between Newark, New Jersey, and Faro, Portugal, as well as Tokyo and Cebu, Philippines.

Notably, United also disclosed that it would have reported a profit for the quarter if it weren't for the temporary grounding of the Boeing 737 Max 9 in January. This grounding followed an incident where a door plug blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight, sparking a further safety crisis for Boeing and disrupting deliveries to United and other carriers.

Despite these challenges, United reported a net loss of $124 million, or 38 cents per share, for the first quarter of this year, compared to a loss of $194 million, or 59 cents per share, during the same period last year. However, the airline's revenue rose by nearly 10% in the first quarter, reaching $12.54 billion, with capacity up over 9% compared to the previous year.

In terms of financial outlook, United expects earnings of between $3.75 and $4.25 per share in the second quarter, surpassing analysts' estimates. Airlines typically generate the bulk of their profits during the peak travel season of the second and third quarters. The carrier also reiterated its full-year earnings forecast of between $9 and $11 per share.

Following the announcement, United's shares experienced an increase of over 4% during after-hours trading on Tuesday. United executives are scheduled to hold a call with analysts on Wednesday morning to further discuss their plans moving forward.