United's CEO Scott Kirby Bets Big on JFK, Global Routes After 10 Years

Ten years ago, Scott Kirby was fired from American Airlines. Today, he runs United Airlines — one of the biggest and most profitable carriers in the United States.

When American let him go in 2016, Kirby took the president job at United just 60 seconds later. He became United's CEO (the top boss of the company) in 2020, during the Covid crisis that hit airlines hard. Now, at 59, he's setting ambitious goals for the airline's future.

Here's what Kirby wants to do:

• Grow at JFK airport in New York. United is returning to this busy airport through a partnership with JetBlue Airways as early as next year. Kirby wants to acquire more "slots" (permission to take off and land at set times — very valuable at crowded airports).
• Expand international flights. United is already the U.S. leader in flights abroad, and this week it plans to announce many new global routes.
• Consider megamergers. Kirby has floated the idea of combining United with rivals Delta or American (a "merger" means two companies joining into one). So far he's been turned down, and experts doubt regulators would allow it anyway.

Why does this matter? International travel is booming, and airlines make big money when travelers pay for pricey seats and sign up for travel rewards credit cards (cards that give points and perks for flying, which are very profitable for airlines).

The competition is fierce. United ranks second in profits among big U.S. airlines, behind Delta. American is a distant third. Delta's CEO Ed Bastian has vowed to never let United overtake him, and is now expanding flights across the Pacific — a route where United is strong.

The bottom line: Kirby says he isn't out for revenge against American, just fierce competition. After a decade of upgrades and growth, he's now thinking bigger than ever as the airline industry faces rising costs and limited airport space — but strong demand from travelers willing to pay more.

This is an AI-generated summary. Read the original article at: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/23/united-airlines-ceo-scott-kirby.html