Exactly one year ago, Scott Kirby struck an upbeat tone in the face of economic headwinds, insisting United would not shrink or retreat. He is singing from the same hymnal again, but this time the stakes are much higher.
Kirby told employees that United is prepared for this moment because it has spent years building up cash, margins, and its balance sheet. He noted that United now has about three times as much cash as it did going into COVID, ended 2025 with its highest credit rating in more than 30 years, and together with Delta represented roughly 100% of total U.S. airline profitability last year.
That is quite a flex. It is also a wager.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
