# United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby raised the idea of a merger with the White House this year.

*business · news · 2026-04-15 · CNBC*

## Key points

- United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby discussed a potential merger with the Trump administration in February 2024.
- Kirby has been considering an airline merger since fall 2023, predating recent public reports.
- Kirby specifically floated the idea of a United-American Airlines merger to the White House.
- Such a United-American merger would create the world's largest airline, unprecedented in U.S. aviation history.
- Kirby believes larger airline size is needed to better compete on international routes, especially to the Middle East.

**Companies:** United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines
**Countries:** United States

[Read the full story on CNBC](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/15/united-ceo-kirby-american-airlines-potential-merger.html)

---

Canonical: https://newsio.io/n/92ff6005-00d7-4992-b98b-06716eabb9f2/united-airlines-ceo-scott-kirby-raised-the-idea-of-a-merger-with-the-white-house
Summarized by Newsio from CNBC. https://newsio.io/how-it-works