United’s CEO Tried to Sell Trump on a Mega-Merger. It Didn’t Go Anywhere.
Scott Kirby walked into a White House meeting last February expecting to discuss upgrades at Dulles International Airport. He left having floated something much bigger: merging United Airlines with American Airlines. The idea would create a single carrier controlling more than 30 percent of U.S. flight capacity—dwarfing Delta’s 18 percent—and give American aviation a stronger weapon against Middle Eastern and Asian rivals on long-haul routes. Kirby argued that U.S. carriers are losing the global fight for international travelers. The White House wasn’t buying it. President Donald Trump shot down the idea on April 21, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy followed up by saying any deal would need clear proof that passengers would benefit. American Airlines itself made its position plain: it has no interest in merger talks with United.
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Mike Lee piled on, sending a joint letter to Kirby and American CEO Robert Isom warning that a combination would likely mean higher fares, fewer jobs, and lost routes. They gave the executives until May 3 to respond. Legal experts say the proposal has zero chance of passing antitrust review. A Cornell law professor put the odds at nil. Past failures—like the blocked JetBlue-Spirit merger—set a clear precedent.
Kirby has history with consolidation. He helped architect American’s 2013 merger with US Airways when he worked there, before United poached him. On a recent earnings call, he dismissed the speculation as old comments twisted by leaks, and said United is not commenting on the reports. He told CNBC that partnerships like Star Alliance work fine for now and that opening a foreign hub is extremely unlikely.
United is moving forward without a mega-deal. Strong first-quarter earnings, investments in technology and onboard perks, and a steady earnings forecast show the airline can grow on its own. Rising fuel costs and Boeing’s ongoing certification delays add complications, but Kirby said any solution comes with trade-offs. For now, the merger talk has faded. The industry is watching to see what United does next.