by Donald Wood
Last updated: 8:05 AM ET, Fri May 29, 2026
United Airlines Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby said during a recent conference that the carrier would not pursue another consolidation deal unless it were a “big transaction.”
According to Reuters.com, Kirby spoke on Wednesday at the Bernstein investor conference, just weeks after American Airlines refused United’s offer for a potential blockbuster merger.
Kirby believes the “big transaction” the airline was pursuing with American made economic sense for the carrier, but smaller potential merger deals would not benefit United in the same way.
The United CEO said the airline currently doesn’t have a willing merger partner of the size needed to make a deal worth it. Kirby revealed that he doesn’t “think that United, at least is going to participate in any consolidation for any time I can see in the foreseeable future.”
Kirby originally floated the idea of a merger with American during a meeting with United States President Donald Trump in February. Still, American CEO Robert Isom rejected the proposal, calling it anti-competitive and bad for customers.
With the largest carriers in the U.S. not looking to make a deal, investors questioned whether United would be willing to make smaller deals. Kirby responded by calling the idea “idiotic” and expressing no desire to pursue a merger with a smaller brand.
United CEO Scott Kirby (photo via United Airlines)
As for United’s future, Kirby said he believes the airline will “reach double-digit pre-tax margins next year, as easing oil prices and resilient demand help it recover more of the hit from higher fuel costs.”
While the CEO acknowledged that some routes would be cut or altered if they were not profitable, Kirby told Reuters that he had “not seen a meaningful pullback in demand after fare increases.”
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
