United says it is delaying the launch of two new international routes due to increased Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversight. The affected routes include Tokyo to Cebu, originally scheduled for July 31, and Newark to Faro, which was slated to begin in May.
Service to Cebu won’t begin until October 27, according to a United spokesperson. Newark-Faro won’t begin this year, instead slipping into Summer 2025.
This news comes after a string of recent incidents involving United aircraft, which prompted the FAA to initiate a closer look at the airline’s operations.
“Due to recent safety events, the FAA is increasing oversight of United Airlines to ensure that it is complying with safety regulations; identifying hazards and mitigating risk; and effectively managing safety,” the agency said in a statement last month. “Certification activities in process may be allowed to continue, but future projects may be delayed based on findings from oversight.”
The Chicago-based airline says impacted customers on these planned flights will receive full refunds or the option to rebook their travel on partner airlines without additional fees.
Additional Scrutiny
Because both Cebu and Faro are new destinations for United, the airline may require additional approvals to begin revenue service. It remains unclear exactly which certification activities will be restricted.
“United will still train, issue type rides, and conduct normal business,” the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) United MEC said in a letter. The pilots union noted that the airline will undergo an FAA audit called a Certification Holder and Evaluation Program (CHEP) in which the agency embeds inspectors into an air carrier’s daily operations to review “all facets.”
According to the union, these audits aren’t particularly uncommon. United’s last one was in 2018 and the FAA says they are conducted roughly every five years.
