by Donald Wood
Last updated: 8:25 AM ET, Mon July 27, 2026
United Airlines reportedly approached Delta Air Lines last
year about a potential megamerger, but after consideration, the potential deal didn’t
come to fruition.
According to The
Wall Street Journal, people familiar with the matter revealed that United Chief
Executive Officer Scott Kirby actually called Delta CEO Ed Bastian as part of
the efforts to pitch a merger between the airlines.
Sources told The Wall Street Journal that Bastian took the
merger request back to Delta officials who “discussed the approach and merits
of a potential deal as part of preliminary due diligence.”
While the merger discussion didn’t progress any further than
that and both airlines moved on to other potential deals, it further strengthens
the viewpoint that Kirby is trying to make United the top airline in the
world.
Rumors surfaced earlier this year that Kirby met with United
States President Donald Trump in late February to pitch the idea of merging
with American Airlines.
In response, American released
a statement in April saying it was not “engaged with or interested in any
discussions regarding a merger with United Airlines. Our focus will remain on
executing on our strategic objectives and positioning American to win for the
long term.”
Despite potential antitrust issues and disputes over whether
federal regulators would approve such a massive merger if it were to happen, Kirby
has remained adamant that the carrier is not interested in smaller mergers.
“In the past, airline mergers usually have been about two
struggling airlines coming together to cut costs, flights and headcount,” Kirby
said in April. “My aspirations could not be more different.”
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