United Airlines to conquer the skies, the CEO Kirby: « We are the Flag of the USA »

With a fleet of over a thousand planes, the US company United Airlines came out of the pandemic as a leader worldwide. Not only did it overtake American Airlines – For a long time at the top -, but he compensates with another American, Delta Air Lines, the scepter of the best carrier of the planet. From every point of view. «We don’t want to be only the largest aviolinea. Perhaps we are also the best, « says Scott Kirby, United CEO inside a former Shipping Warehouse in Brooklyn, New York, transformed into space for events. «But we still have a long way to go. And we are only at the beginning, « he continues.

The news in the cabin

Kirby – became known for introducing the « Basic Economy », the most convenient travel class of the economy, but also with less services available – has recently finished presenting the new two cabins of business class, Polaris and Polaris Studio, which will be installed on all the next Boeing 787 delivered. «Our goal is to create something that does not seem even an airline – comments during a chat with some foreign newspapers, including the Courierflanked by the commercial director Andrew Nocella -. We don’t just want to create great on -board products, we also want to be a company to count on ».

The size

At the end of this year – they estimate Raymond James’ analysts – United will have 1,054 planes directly in the fleet, thus excluding those of the regional companies with which it has agreements on national flights. More than 1,007 of American and 980 of Delta. In the entire 2025, according to the numbers provided by the Cyrium specialized platform, United will offer 227 million seats, less than American and Delta, but more than any aviolinea in the world if you look at the « Ask », the total of seacal offered (equal to just under 540 billion), crucial metrics in the sector and which represents the ability to transport passengers.

The challenge on Italy

Within this value there are also the new routes, including those concerning Italy. A Delta who launches the Palermo-New York JFK (from 23 May), United responds with Palermo-Newark, the other reference stop of the « Big Apple » (from May 22). And on our country the investment continues to be relevant by the US aviolinees: in 2025, compared to 2019 (last regular year before the pandemic), Delta increased the offer of 107%, United by 135%. The company led by Kirby had the autumn passed also for introducing « unusual » destinations Like Greenland and Mongolia.

During the pandemic

« United was the only company in the world to keep its fleet intact during the pandemic, » recalls Kirby, former president of Us Airways and American Airlines. «While others gave credit to the » experts « according to which the request for travel would never have recovered, and started reducing the size. We have also placed the largest planes orders in history. We have always believed in a full recovery. We have embarked on a path of large investments not only on planes, but also on services, technology, experience and product to conquer customers faithful to the brand, and we are doing it ».

More and more premium

Experts for some time report that the profits are done by going well in the front of the aircraft, the one where premium customers sit. On average, according to the calculations of the IATA (the International Aviolinee Association), 3% of the passengers fly in the First and Business classes e generates 15% of the carrier’s turnover. United ended 2024 with over 57 billion dollars of revenues (of which 51.8 billion from travelers) and 3.15 billion of net profit. The « premium » component is not clear on the budgets, but according to analysts 40-42% of passenger revenues come from those who book in business or premium economy.

International alliances

In addition to being a member of Star Alliance, United is the historic ally of Lufthansa (and Air Canada) on flights, profitable, between the two banks of the Atlantic (in 2024 the only US carrier brought home 11.1 billion dollars). With the joint venture A ++, the three companies coordinate flights, times, connections, offer, product, rates. In the end, revenues are shared (unlike the Delta-Air France-Klm-Virgin Atlantic Joint Venture where profits and losses are divided). In the fourth quarter of 2026-trimester 2027, if everything is fine, it will also be added to AIR AIRWAYS, which at the moment sees Lufthansa owner of 41%.

The airports of the « Big Apple »

And here is one of the logistical complexities. In New York, United operates its intercontinental flights on Newark, having left the « JFK » a few years ago. Lufthansa thus flies in both airports. But on the « JFK » the continuation flights are missing – in the USA, in the rest of the continent -. Ita operates on the « JFK », but the Rome Fiumicino-Newark connection is to study, just to allow the passengers of the tricolor vector to land in the New Jersey airport-in front of New York-and to embark on a United plane towards their final destination.

The agreements with Jetblue

This is why there was a lot of talk about a partnership between United and JetBlue – US vector that was born as low cost, now more « hybrid » – which is very strong to the « JFK » and which therefore could bring the US giant back to the largest New York airport. In recent days The Courier has revealed That the preliminary agreement provides that JetBlue gives United 20 pairs of slot to the « jfk » (equal to 40 flights, between departures and arrivals). « I still can’t say what happens, » Kirby replies to Courieralmost hiding that « still ». « I have a lot of respect for JetBlue, because it has the same customer -oriented DNA that we have. »

The next moves on New York

« I’ll tell you a personal anecdote – says the CEO -: at the beginning of my career I thought that flying was a commodity, where only times and prices counted. Then came JetBlue with the TV live on board. At the beginning I thought: « It is an advertising stunt ». Then I flown with them and saw the reactions of the passengers: it was a turning point for me. They had understood everything. I was wrong. That was the origin of my desire to build the best company in the world for customers ». In short, many praises. But still silence on the type of agreement. Also on the « JFK ». « For us it is an important stop – replies Kirby -. In one way or another, we have to go back to JFK. As you know, it is a situation that I inherited. I wish United had never left « Jfk », and I’m busy returning to it ».

The position on Trump

Kirby does not pull back, even when he reminds him of his statements in favor of Trump and his duties policy. « Read what I really said well, » he specifies. «I argued that the president’s goal is to bring high quality jobs back to the United States. I think this is commendable. But I also think that the duties alone probably do not be enough to reach it, but the goal is valid ». In any case, « everyone should take a moment and breathe, because we are not yet at the final phase. We are not yet in the new normality. So I say: let’s wait, let’s see how everything is settled, and then we decide ».

The « knot » Newark

One of the scratches for the CEO is Newark, a stopover in recent times has ended up on the front pages for canceled and delayed flights due to the continuous disservices by the flight controllers (which are also few) aggravated by the work of pavement of one of the slopes. On at least two occasions – between April and May – the reference radar center, in Philadelphia, lost the audio and video contacts with the planes that was managing on Newark for a minute and a half. « Flying to that stopover is absolutely safe, » says the CEO. « When these problems happen, our drivers are trained with emergency procedures to maintain safety. »

Supervision in 2024

In March 2024 the company ended up under observation for some medically remarkable accidents-a Boeing 737 Max on the lawn in Houston, a Boeing 777-200 directed in Japan that loses a wheel after take-off from San Francisco-: for this reason, for a few days the staff of the Federal Aviation Administration has taken a look at the operations to review some of the work processes, manuals and structures. A move that certainly has reduced the inconveniences that are also there for a carrier who carries 2,800 flights a day.

The investment in generations

Looking at the product-which plans to provide free ultra-fast wi-fi for free managed by Starlink – Kirby claims that « it is important to offer a wide range, from the most premium to the cheapest one, because it is what consumers want, in particular along the cycle of their life from travelers ». « Many begin young people flying to » Basic Economy  » – reasoning -, then, with age, perhaps pass to Polaris Studio. And we will be there to cover all this spectrum ». « In many respects we are now the flag carrier of the United States. »