United Airlines Holdings Inc. has decided to cancel an upcoming investor meeting slated for early May. The decision stems from a recognition that celebrating its performance at this time could send the wrong message, given the recent series of safety incidents that have drawn public attention.
Instead, the event, originally scheduled for May 1st, will likely be rescheduled for the fall. At that time, the company plans to discuss its unique competitive advantages, new opportunities in loyalty programs, and its optimistic outlook for the future. This information was conveyed in an email sent to investors and industry analysts on Friday, reviewed by Bloomberg News.
This unexpected move underscores the seriousness with which United Airlines is addressing safety concerns that have arisen in recent weeks. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently reviewing United’s safety protocols and considering measures that may restrict the airline’s growth, such as prohibiting the addition of new routes.
This follows a string of incidents involving United Airlines aircraft, including the loss of a wheel from a Boeing Co. jet after takeoff, a panel detachment during flight, and a runway excursion.
United Airlines emphasized that its current focus is on cooperating with the FAA to review safety protocols. The decision to cancel the investor meeting was explained in a message from the company’s investor relations department, which stated that holding an event primarily focused on financial results would be inappropriate given the circumstances.
Following this announcement, United’s stock fell by 1.8% after the close of trading in New York. However, the stock had seen a 4.7% increase earlier in the year.
In response to the incidents, United’s vice president of corporate safety informed employees in March that the FAA would intensify its oversight of the airline’s operations. Additionally, United’s CEO, Scott Kirby, assured customers in a message last month that the incidents had prompted an internal review to assess whether safety training or procedures needed adjustment.
United Airlines has already outlined several planned changes, including additional in-person training for pilots starting in May and a centralized curriculum for new maintenance technicians. The airline also intends to allocate more resources to managing its supplier network.
United Airlines is scheduled to release its first-quarter financial results on April 16th. Regarding the recent runway incident in Houston, a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board suggested that the United captain may have deviated from landing procedures for slippery conditions.
