Scott Kirby

“I firmly believe in no excuses, and so we don't make excuses,”

Scott Kirby · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-23

Scott Kirby highlighted his philosophy regarding customer communication about airline delays.

“My job is to set the company up so none of you ever have to have a sleepless night worrying about your jobs.”

Scott Kirby · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-23

Scott Kirby described his mission to provide long-term job security for United Airlines employees.

“Everyone thinks I do, but no, I don't,”

Scott Kirby · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-23

Scott Kirby addressed perceptions about seeking revenge after being fired by American Airlines a decade earlier.

“You can push too hard and you get fired.”

Scott Kirby · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-23

Scott Kirby discussed the career risks of pushing for too much change as a subordinate executive.

“I joke that most people take a few weeks, a couple months between jobs. I took 60 seconds,”

Scott Kirby · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-23

Scott Kirby recalled how quickly he moved to United after being let go by American Airlines in 2016.

“Our employees often ask me like, 'What keeps you awake at night,' and I tell them, 'nothing,'”

Scott Kirby · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-23

Scott Kirby shared how he responds to employees who ask what keeps him awake at night.

“We got a bunch of irons in the fire to try to find ways to do it,”

Scott Kirby · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-23

Scott Kirby discussed efforts to expand United's presence at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

“I hope I will know when to retire and do it gracefully with a great transition with great people.”

Scott Kirby · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-23

Scott Kirby commented on his long-term perspective regarding his eventual retirement.

“They no longer tell me in advance because they're afraid I'll spill the beans, which is fair,”

Scott Kirby · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-23

Scott Kirby explained why his team keeps upcoming international route announcements secret from him.

“Those are two places that are holes for United that are hard to fix on a stand-alone basis,”

Scott Kirby · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-23

Scott Kirby discussed the difficulty of expanding United's network into South America and the Southeast U.S. independently.

“One of the things also I learned at American: There's only so much change you can make as the No. 2,”

Scott Kirby · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-23

Scott Kirby reflected on the limitations of serving as the second-in-command executive at American Airlines.

“All of the objections are ... based on a premise that the airline industry is a commodity.”

Scott Kirby · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-23

Scott Kirby pushed back against antitrust scrutiny regarding potential airline industry mergers.

“That's still the case,”

Scott Kirby · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-23

Scott Kirby reaffirmed that he has no interest in acquiring a smaller airline such as JetBlue.

“Everything I say would require a willing partner,”

Scott Kirby · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-23

Scott Kirby noted that any major airline merger would depend on having a cooperative partner.