United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby pitched a merger with American Airlines to President Donald Trump in February, proposing a combined carrier that would become the world's largest airline, according to Reuters.
Kirby raised the idea at the White House after a meeting about a potential multibillion-dollar renovation of Washington Dulles International Airport and argued a merged U.S. carrier would better compete internationally; he has said two-thirds of long‑haul seats are operated by foreign airlines while 60% of those ticket buyers are American.
A combined United‑American would operate about 2,066 planes versus Delta's 992 and experts estimate it would control majority capacity at nearly 160 U.S. airports, prompting significant antitrust concerns.
Bloomberg reported Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said President Donald Trump "loves to see big deals happen" and there may be room for mergers, while recent enforcement actions—including a federal judge blocking JetBlue's $3.8 billion Spirit deal in January 2024—highlight legal hurdles.
This article is based on reporting from Jalopnik.
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