United CEO Floated American Airlines Merger to U.S. Officials

Overview

• Multiple outlets report that Scott Kirby raised a United–American tie-up with senior U.S. officials, including Trump at a White House meeting.
• Neither airline has confirmed a formal proposal or an active merger process, and both companies declined to comment.
• American Airlines shares jumped in after-hours and early trading after the reports, while United’s stock was little changed to modestly higher.
• Regulators and experts signaled long odds for approval, with DOT chief Sean Duffy promising a rigorous consumer review and antitrust scholars citing heavy route overlap in cities like Chicago.
• A combined carrier would be the world’s largest in a U.S. market already concentrated among four big airlines, and higher jet fuel costs tied to the Israel–Iran conflict are driving fresh consolidation talk that could raise fares and threaten jobs.