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I guess if you don't ask, the answer is always “no” … or something like that. In this case, it should still be an emphatic no.
United has reportedly raised the question of merging with American Airlines, creating the world's biggest airline. That all sounds like a joke, but it comes from both Bloomberg and Reuters, both of which separately reported that United has floated the prospect of acquiring American by government officials. United CEO Scott Kirby supposedly pitched the idea of a mega-merger directly to President Trump more than a month ago.
I can't believe I had to type those words … but all bets are off in 2026, I guess.
In an interview with CNBC last week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was asked about the possibility of more airline mergers, to which he responded that it would depend on a variety of factors, before quickly adding that Trump “loves to see big deals happen.” This would certainly be a big, big deal.
Whether this has any chance whatsoever of becoming a reality – or whether it's something United actually wants – is a question for brighter minds. I have my doubts. But here's what I know for certain: This would be an unmitigated disaster for consumers.
Why's that? Competition is everything for airfare. Fewer airlines naturally means less competition, but this proposal is on a whole different scale.
United and American combined would be roughly twice the size of Delta, the next biggest carrier. It would dominate nearly a dozen U.S. hubs, giving it the power to charge whatever it wants and bully out any competitor that dares to offer a better fare. At a time when airlines are already raising prices (and fees) left and right, that's not what you want to see.
This whole thing is so cartoonishly stupid, it can't be serious … right? Here are my theories:
- United does want to buy another airline – just not American. But by going for the whole American enchilada, another, more serious takeover bid looks reasonable in comparison. JetBlue, perhaps?
- United is just trolling. Kirby was spurned by American Airlines before taking the reins at United. He's spent the better part of the last decade needling his former employer every chance he gets.
- It's a flex – and a troll-job, too. United fancies itself the world's #1 airline already (the jury is very much out on that) and loves to make buzzy moves like ordering supersonic planes. Nothing screams “We're #1!” quite like angling to acquire another one of the biggest airlines in the world – and one of your top competitors to boot.
Consolidation is a constant in the airline industry. United is technically still Continental Airlines, at least in spirit. American is a hodgepodge with U.S. Airways – and before that, America West. Delta famously swallowed up Northwest Airlines.
The list goes on and on and on. Looking back a few decades, it's troubling how many airlines we've lost – and how few now dictate where we fly, when, and how much it costs.
Having written all that, I'm afraid I wasted both my time and yours. Certainly, this United-American thing can't happen … right?
Then again, Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has recently said “I think there’s room for some mergers” and that “Trump loves to see big deals.”
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