I asked United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby about his reported merger overtures to both American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. He would not confirm the conversation with Delta, but his answer revealed something more interesting: Kirby wants to build a U.S. airline with enough scale to compete not just with Delta and American, but with the best airlines in Asia and the Middle East on product as well as network.
Earlier this year, he openly acknowledged approaching American Airlines about a potential combination. More recently, The Wall Street Journal reported that Kirby had approached Delta CEO Ed Bastian in 2025 about a potential United-Delta merger as well. Delta reportedly considered the proposal internally, but nothing came of it.
United has never confirmed that Delta overture. So when I had a chance to speak to Kirby in Denver yesterday, I asked him about it and also added why United would need a partner when it was growing so well organically.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
