United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby talks about the future from JFK to AI
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby discusses his aggressive competitive strategy and plans to expand the airline's presence at JFK airport. Kirby also addresses industry challenges, including rising costs and the need for infrastructure investment.
Why it matters
As a major industry leader, Kirby's vision for United Airlines provides insight into the future of US aviation, including potential consolidation and infrastructure competition.
NEWARK, New Jersey — Scott Kirby says he doesn't believe in revenge.
"Everyone thinks I do, but no, I don't," said the United Airlines CEO, whom American Airlines fired 10 years ago , when he was president of that carrier. "I compete aggressively."
United announced it had hired him as president on Aug. 29, 2016, a blink after American disclosed his departure. Now, Kirby is running the second-most profitable U.S. airline after Delta Air Lines . And his former employer, American, is a distant third of the big, more-than-century-old, U.S. carriers, though it's working to ramp up revenue through a host of upgrades, including bringing back seatback screens .
Kirby floated the idea of megamergers with both Delta and American in the past year, combinations that would bring together some of the biggest airlines in the world. He's so far been rebuffed, and antitrust experts were skeptical about the possibility.
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