American Airlines and United Airlines. Photo: Nate Hovee / Shutterstock United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has confirmed that he approached American Airlines to explore the possibility of a merger between the companies, a move he said was intended to change the face of American aviation. "
“I approached American about exploring a combination because I thought we could do something incredible for customers together,” Kirby explained, adding that it was clear from the start that a merger of this magnitude could only be realized if there was full cooperation between the parties and a shared vision. However, American chose not to enter into negotiations and even publicly closed the door to the possibility. Kirby made it clear that "without a willing partner, something this big simply can’t get done."
Kirby also emphasizes that, unlike previous airline mergers, which focused on downsizing, cuts, and reductions in operations, the initiative he led was based on growth and expansion. He said the move was intended to grow the network, expand international operations, and offer an improved flight experience for customers, while also creating broader value for employees and communities.
He also noted that a combination between United and American could lead to an increase in the number of destinations and flights, offer a wider range of options for passengers, and strengthen the position of American airlines against international competitors. In addition, he said, such a move would not lead to an increase in prices but, on the contrary, to an increase in supply in the market.
However, he clarifies that currently the possibility of a merger is not on the agenda: "American’s public comments make it clear that a merger like this is off the table for the foreseeable future”. However, he emphasized it is still important to understand the potential that such a move would have.
Regarding the future, Kirby emphasized that despite the halt in talks, United continues to move forward in accordance with its strategy to build the best airline in history.