United Airlines has confirmed that American Airlines declined to engage in discussions regarding a potential merger between the two major US carriers.
United Chief Executive Scott Kirby said he had approached American to explore a possible combination, believing the two airlines could create a stronger offer for customers if both parties shared the same vision.
Kirby explained that, in his view, any merger of this scale would only make sense if it delivered clear benefits to customers and could gain regulatory approval. He said the idea was not about reducing capacity or cutting jobs, but about building a stronger airline with improved products, services, technology and global competitiveness.
American Airlines had already made its position clear in a 17 April statement, saying it was not engaged in, nor interested in, merger discussions with United.
American argued that such a combination would be harmful to competition and consumers, and inconsistent with its understanding of current antitrust principles and the administration’s approach to the aviation sector.
The airline said its focus remains on executing its own strategy and positioning the company for long-term success.
Kirby acknowledged that American’s public response effectively removes any merger possibility for the foreseeable future. However, he maintained that United’s broader ambition remains unchanged: to build what he described as the greatest airline in aviation history.
The comments come as cargo performance diverged between the two airlines. United Cargo recorded a 1.6% decline in air cargo revenue during the first quarter, while American Airlines’ cargo operating revenues rose 12.9% to $214 million.
