United Airlines CEO Pitches American Airlines Tie-Up to Trump
United Airlines chief executive Scott Kirby has privately pitched a combination with American Airlines to US officials, including in a direct meeting with President Donald Trump in late February, according to sources cited by Reuters and Bloomberg.
Kirby had been considering a merger as far back as last autumn, months before he raised the idea with the Trump administration, according to CNBC. The extended timeline suggests the proposal reflects a deliberate strategic calculation rather than an opportunistic approach.
The overture places Kirby at the centre of what would be the largest airline merger in the United States since the 2013 combination of American Airlines and US Airways. United and American are two of the three largest US carriers by passenger volume, and any combination would face intense scrutiny from antitrust regulators. Reuters has reported that the proposal has already drawn swift antitrust skepticism.
Critics have warned that a combination of the two carriers could result in higher ticket prices, more fees, and fewer options for passengers, according to The Guardian.
The timing is notable. Kirby previously served as president of American Airlines before departing for United in 2016, meaning a successful acquisition would see him return to lead the carrier that passed him over for its top job.
The sources do not indicate that American Airlines has formally responded to the overture, nor that the Trump administration has offered any regulatory assurances. The political context matters: the administration has signalled a generally more permissive stance on corporate consolidation than its predecessor, though aviation mergers have historically drawn scrutiny regardless of the prevailing antitrust climate.
Neither United nor American has commented publicly on the reports.
