American Airlines Group said that it is not interested in a merger with United Airlines and has not held talks on such a deal, according to a company statement from Fort Worth, Texas, and reporting by Reuters. The statement came days after Reuters reported that United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby had raised the possibility of a combination with President Donald Trump in a meeting in late February.
Key Insights
- American Airlines said it is “not engaged with or interested in any discussions” about merging with United Airlines.
- The company said a combination with United would be negative for competition and consumers, according to its statement.
- Reuters reported that United CEO Scott Kirby pitched the idea in a February meeting with President Trump.
- Reuters said the White House had no opinion on the potential deal and United declined to comment.
- Reuters reported that the proposal would face significant antitrust scrutiny because of the size and overlap of the two carriers.
American Says No Merger Talks
In its statement, American Airlines thanked Trump administration officials for their support of the aviation industry, then said it was not involved in, or interested in, merger discussions with United Airlines. The carrier also said a combination with United would be harmful to competition and consumers and would not fit its understanding of the administration’s approach to antitrust enforcement.
American also said its focus remains on executing its strategic objectives and positioning the airline for the long term. The statement did not describe any negotiation, offer, or formal transaction process.
Reuters Reported United Raised the Idea in February
Reuters reported on April 13 that United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby pitched the possibility of a merger with American Airlines during a meeting with Trump in late February. Reuters cited two sources familiar with the matter and said it was not clear whether United had made any formal approach to American or whether any process was underway.
The Reuters report said the meeting took place on February 25 at the end of a scheduled White House meeting on the future of Dulles airport. Reuters also reported that the discussion occurred three days before the start of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which sent jet fuel prices higher and prompted airlines to raise fares and fees to help offset costs.
Reuters said Kirby has argued to administration officials that a combined airline could be a stronger competitor in international markets. The report also said Kirby noted the Trump administration’s focus on U.S. trade deficits, according to the sources Reuters cited.
White House and Industry Reaction
On April 15, Reuters reported that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration did not have an opinion on the reports of a possible United-American merger. Reuters quoted Leavitt as saying the idea had been proposed by private industry but was not something the president or the White House were weighing in on.
Reuters also reported that the idea drew immediate political pushback. Senator Mike Lee, who leads the Senate antitrust subcommittee, criticized the proposal on X, and the Monopoly Busters Caucus, a group of Democratic lawmakers focused on antitrust enforcement, said the deal should never happen.
American and United are two of the largest U.S. network carriers, and Reuters reported that a combination would create the biggest airline consolidation move in more than a decade. Reuters said industry officials and antitrust lawyer Seth Bloom viewed the chances of approval as slim, citing likely opposition from unions, rival airlines, lawmakers, airports, route overlap, and job-loss concerns.
Regulatory Scrutiny Would Be Central
Reuters reported that the two airlines already overlap at major hubs, including Chicago O’Hare and key airports in Texas. The report said that overlap, together with the scale of the combined company, would invite extraordinary scrutiny from regulators, labor unions, and consumer advocates.
The Reuters article said United and American were the world’s two largest airlines by available capacity in 2025, according to OAG data, and that a combined carrier would account for roughly 40% of U.S. domestic flying capacity based on 2025 schedules. Reuters also noted that the U.S. airline market is already concentrated among American, Delta, United, and Southwest.
American’s own statement pointed directly to antitrust concerns, saying a merger with United would be inconsistent with the administration’s philosophy toward the industry and antitrust principles. The company did not indicate any change in its position after the Reuters report.
American Airlines says it is not in merger talks with United Airlines and is not interested in such a deal. United has not publicly commented on the report, while the White House has said it has no opinion on the matter.
