United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby recently announced that the company is developing a separate plan for airport parking that does not involve Boeing’s 737 MAX 10 aircraft. Kirby expressed concerns over the delivery delays of the MAX 10, stating that the best-case scenario would result in a delay of up to five years from the initial timeline. United Airlines had placed an order for 150 MAX 10 aircraft in 2021.

In an interview with CNBC’s Squawk Box, Kirby explained that the bottleneck for the airline was the MAX 9 aircraft. To address this limitation, United Airlines has already made a larger order for Airbus A350 aircraft. The company aims to diversify its fleet to ensure greater operational efficiency.

Boeing has projected that the certification for the MAX 10 will conclude in 2024. However, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary, a significant Boeing customer, expressed skepticism about the certification timeline and believes it may extend until 2025. Ryanair has placed an order for 150 units of the MAX 10.

Earlier this month, United Airlines had to remove 79 aircraft from its fleet and sell some to lessors. However, this has reportedly allowed the company to clear Airbus’ order books, according to sources cited by Reuters.

Despite concerns surrounding the pandemic’s impact, United Airlines remains optimistic about its financial outlook. The company anticipates a return to profitability by 2024, which has boosted its share prices by 6.8% during pre-market trading on Wednesday.

Overall, United Airlines is actively adapting its strategy to address delivery delays and diversify its fleet to ensure optimal performance and efficiency in the ever-changing aviation industry.