United CEO says airline mergers are unlikely after American talks failed
Scott Kirby said United is not pursuing a merger, while Delta also signaled it prefers partnerships over acquisitions.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
3 min read
United Airlines Chief Executive Scott Kirby said he does not expect another major round of U.S. airline mergers and is not seeking a deal for United. His comments, reported by CNBC, followed American Airlines’ rejection of a possible combination earlier this year.
Kirby spoke Sunday in Rio de Janeiro during the International Air Transport Association’s annual meeting. Asked about recent airline consolidation, he said there was no obvious deal available and argued that mergers should happen only when the economics work.
Kirby told reporters that United would not pursue a transaction for its own sake. He described airline mergers as difficult and said he has been involved in several past consolidation efforts in the U.S. industry.
The remarks come after two recent airline combinations. CNBC reported that Allegiant and Sun Country merged this year, while Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines completed a combination in 2024.
Kirby has also pushed back against speculation that United could buy JetBlue Airways, which recently became a United partner, according to CNBC. The two carriers announced a partnership in 2025 tied to United’s return to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Earlier this year, Kirby discussed the possibility of a United-American combination and raised the idea with the Trump administration, CNBC previously reported. Kirby formerly worked at American.
Kirby later said in a statement, according to CNBC, that he believed a combined carrier could better compete with large foreign airlines. CNBC said some analysts viewed such a merger as unlikely to clear regulatory review.
At the IATA meeting, Kirby said any merger would need broad backing. He told reporters that unions, customers, shareholders, regulators and the management teams would all have to support a transaction.
Kirby said American’s leadership was not on board, CNBC reported. Without that support, he said, a deal could not be completed.
American’s rejection leaves United focused on its existing business as U.S. carriers weigh how much room remains for domestic growth. Kirby’s comments suggest United does not see a workable path to another large domestic merger after years of consolidation that reshaped the industry.
Delta Air Lines also signaled little interest in buying another carrier. Delta President Peter Carter told CNBC on Saturday that he did not see a merger or acquisition in Delta’s future.
Carter said Delta has long relied on partnerships and joint ventures, including arrangements in South Korea, Mexico and Europe, according to CNBC. He said international flying is a key focus because the U.S. domestic travel market is mature.
Carter also told CNBC that Delta wants to challenge United in the trans-Pacific market. CNBC described United as the second-most-profitable U.S. airline and said the Pacific market is lucrative for carriers competing for international passengers.
This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.