The CEO of United Airlines, Scott Kirby, pitched a potential merger with major competitor American Airlines in a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, according to two sources, Reuters reported on Monday, April 13.
What Kirby said
The meeting, which took place at the White House on Feb. 25, 2026, was scheduled to focus on the future of Washington’s Dulles International Airport (IAD).
According to Reuters, the two unnamed sources said that Kirby floated the idea of a merger with American towards the end of that encounter. The United executive argued that it would result in a stronger competitor in international markets, appealing to the Trump administration’s expressed goal of tackling U.S. trade deficits.
In September 2025, Kirby said that two-thirds of seats on long-haul flights to and from the U.S. were operated by foreign airlines, even though 60% of the passengers were U.S. nationals.
At the time of writing, neither the airlines nor the White House have publicly commented on this alleged pitch by Kirby.
Antitrust concerns
United and American are two of the “big four” carriers dominating the U.S. market, alongside Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines. Together, the four control about 74% of passenger capacity, with each holding around 17% of U.S. domestic air traffic, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
Sean Duffy, the U.S. Transportation Secretary, said on April 7 that there was room for airline mergers, but that such a deal would face scrutiny.
“Is there room for some mergers in the aviation industry? Yeah, I think there is,” he stated.
“If there was a merger between some of the larger airlines, they would have to peel off some of their assets,” Duffy said on CNBC, adding, “I am not going to pre-commit to anything.”
A source close to the White House reportedly told Reuters that Kirby’s pitch was met with scepticism, as such a merger would likely affect competition and lead to higher ticket prices at a time when rising consumer costs are already a major issue for voters.
An unlikely prospect
Antitrust lawyer Seth Bloom told Reuters that, despite the Trump administration’s more relaxed approach to regulatory enforcement, a merger of United and American would unlikely be approved.
The deal would also face strong opposition from labour unions, airports, and other airlines, and could lead to route overlaps and job losses.
It is unclear whether United has presented a formal merger proposal to American, but since the Reuters report was published, it has already impacted both companies. American shares rose by 9.3% in early trading in New York on Tuesday, while United’s increased 3.9%.
American has been under pressure to increase profitability. With a market value of $7 billion, the airline is the smallest of the “big four”, falling significantly behind Delta’s $44 billion, United’s $31 billion, and Southwest’s $19 billion.
If the proposal goes forward, Scott Kirby’s experience in airline mergers could play a significant role. Kirby’s first executive role in a leadership position was as president of US Airways in 2006, shortly after the carrier merged with American West. In 2013, he became president of American Airlines after the company merged with US Airways, leaving the role to become CEO of United in 2016.
What are your thoughts on the potential merger of United and American? Share your opinion in the comments.
