WASHINGTON, May 16 (Reuters) - United Airlines

said on Thursday the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has

permitted the carrier to restart some certification activities,

including adding aircraft and routes.

Some airline certification activities were halted after the

FAA said in March it was increasing its oversight of United

following recent safety incidents. The aviation regulator said

then it was initiating a formal evaluation to ensure the

Chicago-based carrier was complying with safety regulations.

United in an email to employees said the FAA was allowing

United to begin the process of restarting certification

activities, including new aircraft and routes "after a careful

review and discussion about the proactive safety steps United

has taken to date."

The airline delayed the start of two new international

routes last month, citing a pause on some certifications by the

FAA.

"We will continue to see an FAA presence in our

operation as they review our work processes, manuals and

facilities," United Airlines said Thursday.

The FAA, which did not immediately comment Thursday, said in

March it was initiating a formal evaluation to ensure the

Chicago-based airline "is complying with safety regulations;

identifying hazards and mitigating risk; and effectively

managing safety."

The FAA's Certificate Management Office for United had

raised concerns about a series of safety incidents, officials

said.

In March, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker told Reuters

the agency was looking at United more closely following the

recent incidents, saying United CEO Scott Kirby "knows we're

going to be engaging a little more closely with them as we look

into these."