United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby approached Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian last year about a potential merger that would have combined two of the largest U.S. carriers, according to people familiar with the matter. Delta leadership evaluated the pitch through preliminary due diligence before talks ended without advancing.
The undisclosed merger discussions last year brought together leadership from two of the most profitable and valuable carriers in the United States, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. United Airlines quietly explored a potential tie-up as part of a broader push to expand its global reach and hunt for major industry deals. United CEO Scott Kirby initiated the contact by placing a direct phone call to Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian to pitch the combination.
Ultimately, the negotiations did not progress past those initial reviews, and both major airlines moved on from the proposal.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Industry Consolidation Hurdles
A successful merger between United and Delta would have reshaped the aviation landscape, combining two of the most dominant forces in domestic and international travel.
The talks occurred against a backdrop of shifting economic pressures and strategic maneuvering among legacy carriers.
United Pursues Alternative Growth Strategies After Merger Talks Stall
The revelation of the talks with Delta follows other unmaterialized merger explorations by United leadership. Earlier this year, Kirby also approached American Airlines about a potential combination, but that proposal was swiftly rejected.
Kirby publicly downplayed the likelihood of pursuing a massive airline merger in the near future. Speaking at the annual meeting of the International Air Transport Association in Rio de Janeiro, Kirby clarified that while United remains interested in growth, full-scale corporate consolidation carries low probability.
“That doesn’t mean we won’t still be in the market to buy assets, but consolidation is a low probability.”
Scott Kirby, United Airlines CEO, via Reuters
Representatives for United Airlines declined to comment beyond stating they had nothing to share,
while Delta Air Lines declined to comment on the matter. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom previously dismissed United’s overtures toward his carrier as anticompetitive.
With major merger avenues effectively closed, United has pivoted its strategy toward acquiring smaller assets, such as airport gates and specific slots, rather than attempting industry-shifting megadeals.