United CEO Scott Kirby outlines expansion plans, AI focus and merger talks

United Airlines chief executive Scott Kirby told CNBC from Newark Liberty International Airport that the airline plans to increase its footprint at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, potentially acquiring slots from carriers that do not profit on existing routes. He said United will also announce several new long-haul destinations, adding to its already extensive international network.

Kirby said he has floated merger ideas with both Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, but both carriers have declined and antitrust experts remain skeptical. "All of the objections are ... based on a premise that the airline industry is a commodity," he said, adding that any deal would require a willing partner.

The CEO highlighted the airline’s use of artificial-intelligence tools to improve operational reliability and customer communications, emphasizing clearer explanations for delays. He also reiterated a commitment to avoid future furloughs and to maintain job security for staff.

Kirby, who joined United in 2016 after leaving American Airlines, noted that the carrier has retained key hubs such as Los Angeles and Washington Dulles, and that growth opportunities remain in South America and the southeastern United States, though he acknowledged challenges in building new hubs.

Delta’s chief executive Ed Bastian responded to competitive pressure by emphasizing continual performance focus, while American’s president Robert Isom said the airline concentrates on realistic opportunities rather than “impossibilities.”