United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby (left) and American Airlines CEO Robert Isom listen as U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks to reporters outside the White House October 30, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby confirmed Monday that he contacted American airlines on a possible merger, a possibility that the Americans rejected.
“I contacted American to explore a combination because I thought we could do something incredible for customers together,” Kirby said in a statement. He said he shared his “big and bold vision” because he was confident the project could gain regulatory approval.
American has rejected the idea, and its CEO, Robert Isom, said last week that such a merger would be bad for customers and “anti-competitive.”
Kirby had pitched the idea to the Trump administration earlier this year, according to people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to discuss the private conversation. in the hope that this combination would allow a major global airline to compete with its foreign rivals
American declined to comment on Kirby’s statement Monday.
“I was hoping to tell this story to Americans, but they refused to engage and instead responded by publicly shutting the door,” Kirby said in his statement Monday. “And without a willing partner, something this important simply cannot be achieved.”
He said American’s “public comments make clear that a merger like this is not feasible in the foreseeable future” but outlined his vision for a combined airline.
Kirby reiterated that the country has a deficit with foreign airlines carrying more than half of the long-haul seats to the United States, with most customers being American.
“The combination of United and American would be a better way to compete with foreign carriers,” he said.
President Donald Trump last week came out against the idea of a combination.
“I don’t like them to merge,” he told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” Tuesday morning. He added that he would, however, like to see someone buy the struggling discount carrier Spirit, but he also suggested the federal government could “help that one out.”
Spirit and the Trump administration are in advanced talks for a bailout.