CHICAGO, May 5, 2026, 10:10 CDT
- Scott Kirby’s nixed United-American merger pitch drew praise from American’s pilots union, which called it a “bold vision.” Still, the group stopped short of backing any deal.
- That message ratchets up pressure on American CEO Robert Isom and the board, coming right after the company pulled the plug on merger discussions.
- Antitrust concerns are still the sticking point here. American argues that merging with United would damage competition and end up hurting consumers.
American Airlines’ pilots union chief is calling attention to United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby’s abandoned merger pitch, saying it’s the kind of decisive thinking American needs. That move, according to Allied Pilots Association President Nick Silva, has shifted what was a stalled idea into a new point of leverage inside American. Silva told members the union’s open to “any path forward” that makes the company better, but as Reuters noted, the group hasn’t thrown its weight behind merging with United. Reuters
This time, Kirby’s misstep isn’t only making headlines in the M&A world. It’s landed squarely in American’s boardroom, where frustration is building—pilots and flight attendants now openly connect the airline’s shaky results to decisions at the top. Leadership, strategy, execution: all under scrutiny.
Silva said he sat down last week in New York with four sell-side analysts—Wall Street’s equity researchers—and Bloomberg News reporters. According to Silva, two points came up: American is falling short of its financial capability, and there’s scant confidence that management’s existing strategy will narrow the gap with bigger network competitors.
For years, American has trailed Delta Air Lines and United when it comes to profitability, according to Reuters. That shortfall has become a rallying point for the pilots union, which has pushed American’s board to answer for the performance. The flight attendants union, meanwhile, has delivered its own no-confidence vote in Isom and demanded new leadership.
On April 27, Kirby said he reached out to American with the idea of “exploring a combination,” making the case that the airlines together could form a bigger player, with more focus on growth, customer investment, and global competition. But he also noted American wasn’t interested, adding that “something this big simply can’t get done” without both sides on board. PR Newswire
American wasn’t entertaining the idea. In a statement dated April 17, the Fort Worth carrier made it clear: “not engaged with or interested in” merger discussions with United. The airline also said it believed the combination would hurt both competition and consumers. American Airlines Newsroom
Still, Kirby hasn’t dropped the topic of consolidation. Speaking to the New York Times—Bloomberg Law picked up his comments—he described mergers as requiring “a lot of calories and a lot of energy.” According to Kirby, pulling off a deal with a smaller airline would actually be tougher than going after a larger one. Bloomberg Law
Investors shrugged off the newest labor news. American edged up 25.5 cents to $12.065 on Tuesday. United advanced $2.58, reaching $92.65, and Delta tacked on $1.71, closing at $70.21.
A tie-up between United and American would hit plenty of obstacles. According to Reuters, Kirby brought up the merger idea with President Donald Trump in a late-February White House meeting that was supposed to focus on Washington Dulles airport. Trump later told people he wasn’t in favor of combining the two airlines. Antitrust concerns would also be front and center, given the carriers’ heavy market overlap.
Silva left it unclear who exactly is in discussions with the pilots union over American’s next move, or if any of them are connected to United. That question is still up in the air. No buyer, no formal board involvement, and no sign of interest from American’s management—at this stage, the merger looks more like leverage than an actual deal.
Even so, Silva made it clear the union isn’t letting the matter drop. According to him, American’s management wanted to know if someone was working to rally pilots around a different proposal for the airline. Silva’s reply: “Yes.” Allied Pilots Association
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