United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby Outlines Plans for JFK Growth and AI

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is preparing to expand the carrier's footprint at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and is planning for how artificial intelligence will reshape the industry, according to CNBC. Kirby, who was fired from American Airlines a decade ago, was hired by United as president on August 29, 2016, shortly after American disclosed his departure, and was promoted to CEO in May 2020.

Kirby said he wants to expand United Airlines' presence at JFK after the carrier returns to the congested airport through a partnership with JetBlue Airways, potentially as early as next year. He said United could eventually acquire slots from carriers not flying profitable routes out of JFK, calling it "a bunch of irons in the fire."

United is set to announce a new batch of United Airlines international expansion routes this week as part of its annual expansion push, which has previously added destinations such as Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and Bilbao, Spain. The carrier has said its international network helps drive customer loyalty and credit card sign-ups, according to CNBC.

Kirby has floated the idea of a United Airlines merger with both Delta and American over the past year but has been rebuffed by both carriers, and antitrust experts have expressed skepticism about such a combination. Delta's president, Peter Carter, said in June that he does not see a merger or acquisition in the airline's future, while American publicly rejected a merger offer from United this spring.

Kirby said he remains uninterested in acquiring a smaller carrier such as JetBlue. He also addressed potential antitrust objections, saying such concerns are "based on a premise that the airline industry is a commodity," arguing that United and Delta have differentiated themselves through routes, cabins and other products.

Kirby said artificial intelligence tools for employees and customers will help make travel easier and improve reliability, and that he wants flight delays explained to customers in plain language. In the first half of the year, United ranked behind Delta and Alaska Airlines for on-time arrivals, according to Transportation Department data cited by CNBC.

Kirby said he also wants to grow United's presence in South America and the southeastern United States, identifying Miami International Airport as the best location for serving South America, though American held more than a 60% share of passenger enplanements there in the 2025 fiscal year.

Kirby said his long-term focus is on stability for employees, adding that his goal is to avoid another furlough at the airline. Further information on United Airlines is available on the company's official website.

In separate news, Buc-ee's trademark lawsuit against an Ohio beaver-logo mini mart has drawn public backlash.