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United Airlines
UAL.O has approached Airbus about buying more A321neos to fill the potential void left by the Boeing 737 MAX 10 delay, in a swap that could break the impasse over a separate order for larger jets, long delayed, industry sources said.
United Chief Executive Scott Kirby recently traveled to Toulouse to probe the manufacturer over a possible quid-quo-pro deal after a mid-flight emergency on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 raised new doubts about the certification of the already delayed MAX 10, they said.
“United Airlines is in talks with Airbus about possible alternatives to ordering the MAX 10. To my knowledge, no agreement has been reached,” said a person familiar with the discussions.
Airbus AIR.PA and United Airlines declined to comment.
Kirby’s previously unreported trip to Toulouse is the latest twist in a deepening crisis engulfing Boeing, as the plane maker seeks to reassure the public and authorities regulation on the quality and safety of its production, while preventing key orders from being unwound.