United Airlines boss says firm will consider alternatives to Boeing’s next plane

United said it expected to lose money in the first three months of the year because of the grounding of its Boeing 737 Max 9 jets (David Zalubowski/AP)

The chief executive of United Airlines has said he is “disappointed” in ongoing manufacturing problems at Boeing that have led to the grounding of dozens of his company’s jetliners, and that the airline will consider alternatives to buying a future, larger version of the Boeing 737 Max.

United Airlines boss Scott Kirby said that Boeing needed “real action” to restore its previous reputation for quality.