United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby believes his career and competitor Delta Air Lines are far superior to any other US airline.
During United's second quarter revenue call on July 17, Kirby insisted that United and Delta's route network and the loyal base of customers would make them stand out. He also believes that his competitors have no choice but to quickly cut from unprofitable markets.
“If you look at all the airlines that aren't named United or Delta, you can find them. All of them have a double-digit percentage of the route network that loses money,” says Kirby.
In the end, other airlines will only “stop flying where they lose money)… economic gravity will ultimately win,” he adds.
Delta and United have been particularly successful in recent years, changing their profits for the first half of 2025, $2.4 billion and $1.4 billion respectively.
Competitor American Airlines is the third of the big three “network” US airlines – it plans to report its second quarter results on July 24th, but lost $473 million in the first quarter.
Delta and United “will win gradually (market share) and gradually win after the quarter,” says Kirby. “The benefits we have are structural, permanent, irreversible and growing.”
Kirby's comments come amidst the major changes within the aviation industry. Discount carriers in the US are restructuring operations in response to low demand and exceeding low-cost airline seats.
Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines and JetBlue Airways have cut off routes. They are also paying more for a better experience, alongside Southwest Airlines, by adding premium seats to the jet to take advantage of passenger demand.
Another disc counter, Avelo Airlines, eliminates all west coast flights and moves focus on more flexible routes.
Southwest lost $149 million, JetBlue lost $208 million in the first quarter, and Spirit recently emerged from bankruptcy protection. These airlines have not yet released their second quarter finances.
In recent years, several low-cost carriers have been seeking strength through partnerships and mergers, but those transactions have fallen apart. The federal court blocked JetBlue's so-called Northeast Alliance and the acquisition of spirit proposed by American Airlines and JetBlue.
Avelo CEO Andrew Levy has partially denounced the US government's generous Covid-19 relief package to help strengthen several large airlines at the expense of others. The government has given airlines $59 billion with the aim of paying employees' wages and benefits amid the pandemic's slump.
However, in Levi's view, the aid helped support and strengthen the share prices of major airlines financially. Despite receiving payroll funds, the airline dropped employees through acquisitions and early retirement packages.
“That was one of the most important things that has happened in the industry since deregulation,” Levy said. Major airlines “have come out stronger than ever… they're too big to fail.”
