Brett Hart is to take over as United Airlines chief executive officer (CEO) with immediate effect after Oscar Munoz suffered a heart attack on 15 October.

Hart, who was the airline’s executive vice president, will be acting CEO until Munoz is well enough to return, though United says it is too soon to know how long this will take. United says Hart will work closely with the airline’s non-executive chairman of the board of directors, Henry Meyer III.

Hart says: “Oscar’s agenda is focused on customer service, teamwork and innovation and I, along with the executive team, will continue to move quickly to implement it.”

Meyer says: “I am confident in his [Hart’s] ability to continue to implement the company’s strategy and Oscar’s mission of bringing United’s people together around the shared purpose of becoming the best airline for our customers and employees.”

So far this year, United Cargo has seen cargo revenue ton miles increase by 6.7 per cent to 1.9 billion, with September seeing a year-on-year rise of 1.9 per cent 211.6 million.