Union Chief Says United's Merger Pitch Exposes American's Weakness

The head of American Airlines' pilots union has praised United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby's rejected merger proposal as the kind of bold thinking the carrier desperately needs—even as the union stops short of endorsing a deal.

In a Monday email to members reviewed by Reuters, Allied Pilots Association President Nick Silva called Kirby's vision "transformative" for passengers, communities, and American's pilots. While the APA isn't backing a merger, Silva used the idea to argue that American needs a sharper strategy and stronger leadership to catch up with rivals.

"Kirby articulated a bold vision for the future of air travel that could be transformative for our passengers, the communities we serve, and, foremost, the very people at American that our C-suite has chosen to disrespect: you," Silva wrote.

American declined to comment. United said last month it dropped merger talks after American refused to engage. American has argued a merger would hurt competition and consumers.

For years, American has trailed Delta and United on profitability. Its unions have turned that gap into a governance issue, pressing the board for accountability. In February, APA urged the board to take "decisive action" and requested a meeting. The flight attendants union also issued a no-confidence vote in CEO Robert Isom and demanded leadership change.

Silva encouraged pilots to read Kirby's message, arguing its ambition highlighted how far American had fallen behind domestic and international competitors. He said APA remains open to "any path forward" that would let pilots work at an airline that values them and "not only competes but leads the industry."

Kirby raised the merger idea during a late-February meeting with President Trump, sources said. The proposal faced steep antitrust hurdles due to overlapping major markets. Trump also said he does not support a merger.

Silva said he hopes all strategic alternatives get a full review from management, not a "quick defensive dismissal." He also revealed that APA is being approached by people exploring alternatives for American's future, and that management recently asked whether anyone was trying to get pilots on board with an alternative plan.

"That answer is 'Yes,'" Silva wrote, without identifying who was behind those efforts.