United Airlines chief executive Scott Kirby has said a full merger with American Airlines now looks unlikely after American refused to engage with his approach. Kirby said the carrier remains open to buying specific airport assets, including slots and gates, if market conditions create the right opportunity.
Kirby made the comments in Rio de Janeiro on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association’s annual meeting. He said he had approached American in April about a combination, but that American’s public opposition closed the door on a transaction. Kirby added that without a willing partner, a merger of that scale cannot move forward.
The remarks point to a narrower approach to consolidation at United, with targeted asset purchases left on the table even as a large-scale merger fades from view. Reuters also reported that Kirby had raised the idea with Donald Trump in February, underlining how long the proposal had been under discussion before American declined to engage.