United Airlines will delay the launch of two previously
announced new routes as a result of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration
pausing some certification activities for the airline, the carrier confirmed
Tuesday.
Service between Tokyo Narita and Cebu, the Philippines, now
is scheduled to begin Oct. 27, as opposed to the original
launch date of July 31. Flights between Newark and Faro, Portugal, are now
planned to begin “in the summer of 2025,” according to United. The
route initially was to begin this summer.
United said in a statement that “impacted customers can
receive full refunds, or we will rebook their travel on one of our partner
airlines without a fee.”
The FAA in March said it would increase
oversight of United Airlines following a series of recent safety-related
incidents. “Certification activities in process may be allowed to
continue, but future projects may be delayed based on findings from
oversight,” the FAA said in a statement.
