United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is laying out his vision for the carrier’s future.
In a new interview with CNBC, the executive spoke about where he’d like United to grow its route network, new airports the carrier could expand to, the future use of AI, and if any mergers are on the horizon.
Here’s a look at some of the most exciting changes Kirby said could be happening at United over the next several years.
Expanding Operations at New York JFK
One priority Kirby has for United’s near future is to expand the carrier’s operations at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
Currently, United’s main hub for the New York area is New Jersey’s Newark-Liberty International Airport (EWR), where it bases most of its transatlantic routes.
The airline is planning a return to JFK for the first time in years through a new partnership with JetBlue. Those flights could launch as early as 2027, according to the report.
Kirby said he’s looking for other avenues back into the busy New York hub, including potentially acquiring flight slots from other airlines whose JFK routes aren’t profitable.
“We got a bunch of irons in the fire to try to find ways to do it,” Kirby told CNBC.
United Airlines jet landing at Newark Liberty International Airport. (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/John McAdorey)
Potential Network Growth in Two Specific Regions
Kirby said in the interview that he would like United to expand its route network in both South America and the Southeastern United States.
“Those are two places that are holes for United that are hard to fix on a stand-alone basis,” Kirby told CNBC.
However, the logistics of doing so could prove complicated. The airports that could serve as potential hubs into those regions are already crowded by other carriers.
At Miami International Airport (MIA), a key gateway to South and Latin America, American Airlines operated 60% of passenger enplanements last year, according to the report.
Airline Mergers and Incorporating AI
Kirby sees AI as a tool to improve flight reliability and ease overall travel logistics. The executive said that he wants to use the technology to explain flight disruptions to customers clearly.
Earlier this year, Kirby made headlines for approaching major carriers like Delta and American Airlines with proposed mergers.
Financial experts scoffed at the idea due to antitrust concerns and likely legal challenges from state attorneys general.
Those concerns have proven moot for now, as both carriers rejected the idea, and Kirby said that he’s not interested in merging with a smaller carrier like JetBlue. “Everything I say would require a willing partner,” he told CNBC.
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