United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has just published his July 4th message to employees at the airline, as shared by Live and Let’s Fly. To Kirby’s credit, he’s consistent in his messaging. That being said, he sure takes some liberties both with how he views his airline, and how he ”ranks” the United States…
Continue reading: United CEO Scott Kirby: United Is World’s Best Airline, USA Is World’s Best Country
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I think Kirby is going to make a switch to Politics and perhaps going to run for Secretary of Transport or maybe even President in 2028.
"If a facist / nazi / rapist / corrupt / thief / sits at a table with ten people and no one gets up, then there are eleven facists / nazis / rapists / corrupt / thieves / at the table."
The idea that tolerating hatred and failing to oppose fascism, nazism, rape, corruption and theft makes those present complicit in extremism.
Silence or inaction in the face of intolerant individuals ends up legitimizing their actions.
"The level of freedom that we have here is just unprecedented around the world." Literally laughed out loud, that's someone who's drunk a lot of Kool-Aid. Not that the truth actually holds much value in the US any longer.
If only there were an organisation set up to rate this stuff! Read it and weep, Scott - https://freedomhouse.org/country/scores
I really hope Scott Kirby, or someone who loves him (Anyone? Mrs. Kirby?), gets him/self to a neurologist, code red.
Note to everyone: eating another grown man’s full diapers has consequences, and we are beholding those consequences in Scott Kirby.
What country could even come close to matching the greatness of the USA? Japan is a nursing home, Europe is a museum and China is a prison. The rest of the ex-US nations are either insignificant or complete shitholes. So, what is America then? America is a business……it’s not a family, it’s a competition. Our strength is that we allow success and failure to happen naturally rather than forcing equal outcomes or pretending that every individual is a value to society. Our system rewards creation and ambition, not guaranteed results. I owe much of my own success to being born in a country that offered extraordinary opportunities at an extraordinary time in history. Happy Birthday America!
United as the largest airline in the world measured on seat miles (true) - and likely also on fleet size. True. In number of countries serviced and likely also in number of aircrafts. But in service and customer experience it is just an absurd statement (in any cabin class and on the ground) - is just a completely absurd statement. There are at least a dozen airlines that are better across all parameters here.
While I appreciate that people love their country - and they should - there is zero proof that the US the greatest country in the world. Except in a few areas where you absolutely should not aspire to #1
If you define 'greatness' solely as absolute economic growth however it is distributed, sure. Your society largely only values money, as you amply demonstrate. Note that the much older societies you cite have learnt over time that economic growth is not the only measure of a society's success. America at least was a very successful business, however you don't seem to have noticed that it's increasingly instead a Mafia state thanks to Trump. You might also benefit a bit from reading some history (i.e. history before your country existed). How Rome ended is particularly enlightening.
lol. UA better than AF La premiere, QR suites and SQ. There are millions of great Americans, but the best. Hahaha. I guess he’s one of mango Mussolini’s sycophants.
Just to give one example (but there are many more) Switzerland scores higher than the USA on ANY dimensions you can think, freedom, education, Life expectancy: 84 vs 78, Median wealth: roughly double, Income +30%, Murders: 10x fewer, innovation Switzerland is number 1 globally for 13 years running
America's only podium finishes? Firearm mortality and obesity (42% vs 12%)
Disgusting comments across the board, and everything wrong with America. No US airline is the world's best at perhaps anything but profitability, and that crown really sits with Delta. As to to the world's best country, that is typical American jingoism, arrogance, and perfectly reflects the lack of culture, humility, and sense of place that is so problematic with the country and has been for its short 250 years of existence. America is staring down a looming debt default, can't adequately ensure affordable healthcare coverage for its own (how is that GREAT?), is plagued with gun violence, racism, inequality, filthy cities, terrible infrastructure, inefficiencies across the board and a country in a steep decline. Best country? My ass.
The population of Switzerland (along with the majority of countries routinely cited by you anti U.S. zealots) is smaller than that of some of America's largest cities. Most of these nations also owe a substantial portion of their success to highly specialized industries or unique resource advantages that are far easier to sustain at a small scale than across a country of more than 300 million people. On top of that, these countries are generally far more demographically and culturally homogeneous……try introducing a few million Mexicans or Somalis into Switzerland and then get back to me.
Anybody here who would if prices and flight times are comparable rather fly United than SIA or Emirates or ANA
"He should watch Jeff Daniel’s monologue on the Newsroom"
That's very good, and Jeff Daniel's monologue is artistic illustration of why the US is a great nation, citizens' ability to speak truth to power. We have a highly effective feedback loop that leads to better outcomes though we have a ways to go in perfecting our union.
As for Kirby's letter this was a message to the troops of United, not the public, but today such missives make for great clickbait. Obviously, Kirby knows this so he has a choice. He can make everything he says to the United employees vanilla or say what he wants to say. Some contend it's about his ego and he admits he likes the limelight. But if UA's performance wasn't as impressive as it has been under his leadership then it would be easy to dismiss. His manifesting where he wants UA to go has been highly effective by any standard, and as Teddy said it's not the critic who counts.
Happy 250th!
And we’re rebuilding our war chest at record pace so we will be ready for the next war. Donnie still has some unfinished business. MERICA !
Americans thinking they have more freedom than all other countries on the planet never cease to amaze me. At least when some Karen from Nebraska who never left the country says so, you can blame it on ignorance, but a CEO of an airline? Must be an absolute moron.
The us as an immigrant we have freedom, rights. Upward mobility. I cam here with 2000 dollars built a good life for me. Is it perfect no. But it is good to live here. Proud to be called American, but life in Europe is not bad. Some Asian countries also.
I didn't know the United CEO was so funny. A real comedian! He’s a shoo-in for next year’s Oscar, that’s for sure. As a foreigner, I’d say this isn't exactly the best way to change people's perception of the United States...
But I do agree with him: UNITED is the best airline in the world that starts with a "U" and ends with a "D." I guess he’s never flown with any other airlines.
United should really ramp up its service in Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, Wyoming, West Virginia, and the Dakotas, where people live Merica the most.
Poor Scott, he thinks that because he hasn't been investigated for corruption like Smisek and because he has convinced himself that people have no memory of him abandoning his staff and customers to flee on a private jet while EWR was a mess, the world will eventually accept him as the best CEO in the history of western civilization. It's cute how extreme underachievers of his kind dream.
Let's see. The FAA had to step in three times into United Hubs because they were mismanaged and overscheduled. That hasn't happened at any other airline. And 10s of thousands of United employees have been making interest free loans to United Management for years; in other words, United hasn't been paying its people industry-leading compensation.
that Hardly sounds like industry-leading
He also forgets that he negotiated the slot swap With that is a big part of why Delta Is the largest domestic airline and has the most flights from New York City
It is really not a surprise why United Internet fans are so obnoxious
It depends on what "best" means. To those that hate our country there's always The Congo.
An airline is not a charity. Best should mean the return for shareholders.
Look in the mirror Timcel - you are the single biggest a$$hole I have seen on the travel blogs in my 20 years of reading them.
Get a life, wanker!
Disgusting statement, reflective of a sad, disturbed country. I renounced my US citizenship years ago and never looked back.
Keep going.
Scott Kirby negotiated the slot swap with Delta while he was at US Airways.
Delta by far got the better end of that deal and is what it is in New York City in part because of the slot swap.
And let's not forget that United even under a previous management negotiated a slot swap between JFK and Newark and Delta ended up with a dozen more JFK flights while Newark lost slot controls because of United underutilization of those slots. The FAA has had to step into Newark's operation multiple times and reduce capacity under the latest intervention.
as much as you want to believe otherwise, Delta has out strategized United and especially in New York City. Delta's focus is now shifting to the West Coast And TPAC which is the heart of United Airlines
Scott Kirby has spouted off for years about going after smaller and weaker airlines. Delta is apparently tired of listening to it and decided to put United in its crosshairs. With $1.6 billion in higher profits last year and the number is very likely higher this year, Delta will likely do to United on an even larger scale then what it achieved in American hubs over the past 15 years.
That Is what a whole lot of people here fear and that fear is present for very good reason
Ben, the concept of American exceptionalism is a real blind spot for many of our citizens, especially those less traveled. It speaks to a brief post WW2 period where much of the remainder of the world was in ruin, disarray and under economic duress. An especially virulent form of totalitarian communism remained a real threat then too. That period has long past. However slick and manipulative politicians hide behind the concept to whip up segments of the population into a populist, xenophobic frenzy in order to mask their true agenda—-self promotion/enrichment and protection/reinstatement of any archaic rules that unfairly favor them and their cronies. The old phrase “History doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes” certainly rings true in this case. 1930’s Europe anyone?
And yet UA employees aren't airing their company's mismanagement on web sites like this one. Hmmm.
I put it to you Walter that it is inaccurate to say this happened solely because United “mismanaged” its hubs.
The FAA has, at various times, implemented traffic management measures affecting major United Airlines hubs.
Examples include: Newark Liberty International Airport, where staffing shortages, runway construction and congestion have led the FAA to cap or reduce scheduled operations.
Earlier periods at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, where FAA scheduling interventions affected MANY airlines, including United, because O’Hare was chronically congested.
I repeat …. It is not accurate to say this happened solely because United “mismanaged” its hubs. Furthermore, I challenge you to stop being selective with your fact reporting and to accurately reflect the situations which you attempt to use as supporting your ever increasing wild speculations.
Bingo, and there we have the perfect example of the myopic mindset of American exceptionalism. Calling a whole continent a museum is laughable and speaks to willful ignorance. Never mind referencing most of the rest of the world a sh#t hole. Shameful. I got news for you, not everyone is on board with the winner take all and the hell with everyone else mindset.
America is a great but flawed country. I believe we should appreciate the things we are good at and be honest about the stuff we're not. Being really great means working hard to stay on top. You can't do that if you're always chest-thumping about how great you are - also - that reeks of insecurity.
America is awesome but not perfect, everyone knows it, we don't need to keep telling everyone. Quiet confidence is attractive in people and countries.
Someone needs to explain to me why, if America is so great (and I'm not saying that it's not), why so many people who like to tell us how great it is coalesce around the "Make America Great Again" slogan. It's either great, or it needs to be made great again. It can't be both.
Which just shows how successful Kirby has been at brainwashing United employees
Every CEO on the planet would love to feed its employees BS rather than pay them but it speaks volumes about the cult mentality at United that so many people give up good pay while thinking their airline is doing so great.
the sad reality is that United has only achieved what it has because at the low pay of United employees.
and Delta pilots have a long history of supporting the company and this chapter will pass with no impact on Delta's overall operational ranking, no matter how much you choose to focus on minute details that last for mere months. Remember, you were touting United's better on time performance and that is now history relative to Delta
What matters in 2026 is that Delta is shifting its competitive focus to United strength markets and that will be the defining story of the next five years in the airline industry, not how great or bad Scott Kirby is or what Delta pilots achieved or did not achieve in their poorly thought out and even worse executed protest to the company for taking away their ability to make even more money through picking up premium flying
There is nothing selective about noting that no other airline has had the FAA step in as many times as United has had. And United has mismanaged its hubs through over scheduling as it attempts to eliminate competitors and dominate markets which the federal government will not allow.
My statements are correct no matter how much you dislike them and argue with them
Well said. Countries are only as good as the people that make it up and all humans have flaws as well as strengths.
That said, The United States still has the world's largest economy and more people from around the world have chosen to come here to build new lives then to any other country in the history of humanity. Flawed as it may be, the United States is still an idea that no other country has to execute better
Over paid, greed driven oligarchs all think USA!USA!#1. $30m a year buys a lot of happiness and jingoism.
Kirby came to United as President/COO in 2016 and became CEO in 2020.
Fleet size 2016/2025:
UA: 737/1,066 +329/45%
AA: 930/1,013 +83/9%
DL: 832/989 +157/19%
US domestic mainline market share (passengers) 2016/2025
DL: 16.4%/17.8%, +9%
AA: 17.2%/17.3%, +1%
SW:18.2%/16.9%, -7%
UA: 13.0%/16.6%, +28%
Since 2016 after Kirby’s arrival UA grew from 102 to 140 int’l destinations while DL shrank from 105 to 94 int’l destinations. UA overtook DL in the Atlantic and Latin America and is larger in the Pacific than DL & AA combined.
Worldwide destinations 3/20/26
UA: 404
AA: 353
DL: 311
TATL destinations 2016/2025
: UA: 22/42
, DL: 32/34,
AA: 21/20
TPAC destinations 2016/2025:
UA: 23/32,
DL: 15/8
, AA: 8/7
TLAT Destinations 2016/2025:
AA: 92/97,
UA: 57/66
, DL: 58/52
Cash Flow: OCF/Capex/FCF (in $b) since 1/1/22 (post-Covid)
UAL: 35.7/25.3/10.4
DAL: 31.6/22.2/9.4
AAL: 17.3/12.4/4.9
SWA: 9.5/12.7/-3.2
Revenue/Net Income (in $b) since 1/1/22 (post-Covid)
DAL: 249.5/14.1
UAL: 229.5/10.5
AAL: 224.5/1.4
UA will take delivery of 120 aircraft including 20 787s in 2026 and gain 22 new IAH gates and 14 IAD gates this year. 47 new 787s will arrive from 2026 to April 2028.
UA: 1,128 aircraft, (236 WB), 180 WB/475 NB on order (15.2 average fleet age)
AA: 1,030 aircraft, (137 WB), 19 WB/270 NB on order (14.3 average fleet age)
DL: 987 aircraft, (179 WB), 85 WB/266 NB on order (14.8 average fleet age)
Nice summary Ben, well said. Especially having dual citizenship, it makes us more awake of broader opportunities and how this country deals with others, especially unions that said other countries are fundamentally rooted in.
You forgot to mention that United has underpaid its employees by $5 billion since 2022.
Scott Kirby is the world's biggest cult leader in the airline industry. It speaks volumes about his ability to manipulate people that United employees have accepted being underpaid for so long just so that they can be a part of a second tier airline
Timbits, you're just jealous since you want to be the biggest cult leader in the industry. I've seen Scientologists and Mormons less pushy than you.
Who cares? United and American get me to where I need to go. Not Delta, since they chickened out and left years ago, leaving behind their slimy residue in the Eighth Circle of Hell, Terminal 5, and their SkyClub in Terminal 2 to United.
Actually, it was noted in articles in the avblogosphere a couple of weeks ago that Kirby flies American heavily. No surprise since he and his family live in Dallas.
Not even close. UAL projecting a double-digit margin in 2027. Your tired dog don't hunt.
Employees trade off wages for working for a better company / benefits all the time. Great job United, your employees have chosen well!!!
Walter, whether I like your argument is irrelevant. The issue here is that you have produced no evidence to support it. So far you have made numerous assertions, however I repeat, so far, yet again you have failed to demonstrated any of them …. Yes?
Once again in this thread Walter Mitty Done has made some very wild assertions. However, true to form he has failed to offer any supporting evidence for his ramblings. He will undoubtedly ‘go dark’ to avoid having to face the shame of being unable to substantiate his assertions.
Far too many readers have requested proof of his claims, however, his response is typically filibustering until the thread is replaced by a new batch. Once he probably knew exactly what he was talking about, but now he imagines that we all think that his word is gospel. Well, I have news for you Walter, some of us are catching up on the life and times of the U.S. domestic airlines business and are no longer willing to take your word at face value.
Walter, is that why you were reportedly payed -off by Delta?
Glad you are using the term reportedly since you have no fax to back up assertions.
it actually is easily verifiable that United employees make less than their peers at other airlines. Anyone that wants to argue otherwise should talk to United employees in their unions rather than debating it here
Complete nonsense.
United flight attendants didn't crash the company's event in New York City because they were happy with what they were being paid.
United Mechanics didn't put up billboards in Chicago criticizing the companies outsourcing to China because they're happy if their jobs are being threatened and their pay is below their peers
in contrast, Delta employs have repeatedly voted the company as one of the best to work for in multiple independent organizations have rated Delta in the top tier of US companies. No other US airline has come close to Delta in Employee satisfaction ratings
most importantly, Delta pays its people well.
Rebel
You do realize this is 2026? Would you like to tell us how United had an earnings advantage in first quarter 2025 but managed to end up$1.6 billion in the hole compared to Delta by the end of the year? The gap is certainly expected to be wider this year which might explain why Delta is happy to shift its competitive energy to United strength markets
> While I’m all for talking up your own airline and thinking positively of your home country, Kirby definitely takes it to the extreme.
Wherever this idea came from that patriotism is a moral fault needs to go away. It serves no purpose and the people that are critical of our country betray their lack of understanding of the situation in other countries because we have an incredible nation, truly remarkable. And it takes a puritanical, self-scourging world view to not see that.
Good for Kirby. If I'm an employee or shareholder, I want to know the guy at the top is willing to fight his corner and go to the mat for his team. Let the legions of wimpy goofs sit with their performative outrage. The gentry's never gonna let 'em in anyway.
"He should watch Jeff Daniel’s monologue on the Newsroom"
Nobody should watch that, it's pure drivel of fashionable hatred of America.
And also, it's America's *250th* birthday. The whiners can stuff it for a few days, get out of the way. It's so tiresome and we're going to have an awesome 250.
‘Stuff it for a few days, get out of the way,’ Wow.
It’s not patriotic to demonize those who are different from us. It is patriotic to embrace all and understand differing points of view.
Happy Independence Day
Steve, I'm saying, don't be a party pooper for literally one weekend and let people enjoy the holiday. Then they can get back to hating America on Monday.
LTD says, “ You do realize this is 2026?”
I was going to ask you that very question because the Delta pilots just put up their web site while enjoying an industry-leading contract and all your examples are ancient history. Heck, UA mechanics have a provision that just gave them an 8% raise to keep them at industry-leading pay until they ratify a new contract. And in 2026 UAL made $1 billion more in net income than DAL and $2.4/$2.2 billion more in OCF/FCF while paying down debt and buying lots more planes that UA got for such smoking prices that they are accretive. UAL is knocking it out of the park.
Thanks for asking.
Don't agree with Kirby.
However I 100% agree with your opinions. Also I love this statement as it is exactly my sentiment ( If there’s one thing that travel has taught me, it’s that we’re all more similar than we assume, and there are pros and cons to each place.)
"Glad you are using the term reportedly since you have no fax to back up assertions."
I'll be sure to "fax" you some data since you can't even spell facts correctly much use them.
"it actually is easily verifiable that United employees make less than their peers at other airlines. Anyone that wants to argue otherwise should talk to United employees in their unions rather than debating it here"
So on a reply where you tell someone else they don't have "fax", your "facts" to backup your counter assertion are entirely anecdotal? lol
you don't disappoint, Tim.
You know so little about non-hourly amounts, it's impressive. there's a lot more to a salary total cost than the dollar amount on the wage scale.
Can't we all get off of our high horses and just celebrate something once in a while? European countries all like to crow about how they are the "best", but whatever. Usual suspects all on display here. It's 250 years, it's a party, have some fun instead of constant complaining. Head to South Beach and have some Espresso Martinis or whatever is cool these days down in MIA (or not so cool, like Europeans with no AC). You can resort to complaining all you want after.
Kirby is Kirby. If you don't understand his motivations by now, being someone who covers the aviation industry, there is no helping you. You should be able to see through the nonsense.
Ben, stick to airline and hotel news and not social commentary.
United's net income in the first quarter was inflated because of sale leaseback transactions. It is hardly a gain if you increase net income and take on debt.
In contrast, Delta wrote down its equity in other airlines because airline shares worldwide were hammered after the Iran conflict began. Do you not realize that airline equities worldwide have soared and Delta's equity position has certainly significantly improved as well?
And you still can't explain how United had a earnings advantage last year in the first quarter that ended up with a $1.6 billion deficit to Delta by the end of the year. The same thing will happen again this year and will probably be larger for a number of reasons including Delta's lower fuel costs.
and United will be taking on higher costs for labor as well as having paid for capacity which it cannot use because of FAA flight capacity limitations And reduced capacity due to fuel costs.
How about you hold your gloating for a couple more weeks and see what the industry actually reports?
On the train for almost 2 months continuously. 😛 Good to be back, glad there’s a sane Tim D around again. 😉
Magic news Walter, thank you for taking the bait …. now be prepared to be reeled in, gutted and filleted.
No. 1. You post: “No other airline has had the FAA step in as many times as United has had”.
I ask: What proof do you have?
This needs evidence. What counts as a “Step in”? Increased oversight? Audits? Groundings? I say that without defining the metric or citing data, it’s an unsupported assertion.
No. 2. You post: “United has mismanaged its hubs through over scheduling”.
I ask: What proof do you have?
Over scheduling can contribute to operational issues, but calling it “Mismanagement” is an opinion unless supported by evidence comparing United’s scheduling with other carriers.
No. 3. You post: “As it attempts to eliminate competitors and dominate markets”.
I ask: What proof do you have?
This attributes motive without evidence. Airlines schedule aggressively to maximize aircraft utilization, market share and profitability. That’s not the same as attempting unlawful monopolization.
No. 4. You post: “Which the federal government will not allow”.
I ask: What proof do you have?
If the government “Will not allow” it, then the implication that United is successfully pursuing such a strategy is contradictory. Competition law is enforced based on evidence of anti competitive conduct, not simply because an airline has a large hub.
No. 5. You post: “My statements are correct no matter how much you dislike them”.
I ask yet again: What proof do you have that your “Statements are correct”?
Your statement is simply rhetoric, not argument. Whether someone likes or dislikes a claim has no bearing on whether it is actually true.
Now Walter, take your time, think before you respond and answer the questions one at a time with actual proof …. Yes?
United is (unfortunately) the US's "best" airline. But that is by far, not a brag.
United will never be the world's best airline. Ever.
I have visited all seven continents and 107 countries. I lived and worked in the 3rd world while employed by the U.S. Government. Some of the things taking place in the U.S. country are appalling. We don’t need to make America great again because it’s always been great. The corruption, cruelty, viciousness and lack of human decency that our Government has shown over the last two years has not made America great. The elation that some (not all) MAGA supporters display when health care is cut, civil rights are rolled back and flagrant corruption takes place is not patriotic. It is what I personally witnessed in the 3rd world. Spoiler alert: there are only two genders, Lincoln was not a racist but come on. Meet me in the middle.
You said, “You do realize this is 2026?”
I was just trying to accommodate your inquiry. So many excuses. Too funny.
Anyone either 1) clutching their pearls about a CEO being bombastic and brash, 2) being offended by any statement that seems to align with the political party currently in power (so it's labeled as inappropriate or bigoted or fascist), or 3) is quick to cite their favorite data so they can say, "Ha! He's wrong!" ... boy, you are all so clearly missing the point.
This was an internal memo to employees. It's not a quarterly SEC filing, it's not an ad campaign, and it's not a policy document. It was written for the workforce to encourage the workforce, as an "atta boy!" and "keep up the good work!" message. It was written for them, not for us. We just got to see it after it leaked.
Some love to come here and comment, "Nope - MY airline's better than United, here's why...". Come on! Should any CEO, going into one of the busiest holiday travel weekends of the entire year, say to the workforce, "Hey - you've gotten better at some things. But we're just sort of okay, and occasionally even just 'meh' at times."
Be real. Of course a memo to employees is going to be "over the top" - that's what they all should be! Every CEO needs to be as much a cheerleader as a strategic planner and manager. Every CEO should believe their company is better than the rest.
There nothing to see here, except to see how Kirby likes using overly enthusiastic, exaggerated verbiage to try to bring it the best in his employees. It sure beats the alternative.
Kirby lives in Texas. That's a main reason to not believe what he says. There are other bloggers that live in Texas and you can't believe 1/100th of what they say about life, liberty and the pursuit of freedom.
Scott and Ed constantly slap it on the table to see who's is bigger. Has absolutely nothing to do with running their respective airlines and both should focus more on that then public statements.
On the other hand, I'm fine with any business leader sending out a 4th of July message to honor our great country. I think frankly that should be a requirement.
Move to the great state of Texas and you will see why it is different. IMHO, the most "American" of all our states.
Walter Mitty Dunn, (Not ‘Done’ as Mr Apple’s AI keeps inserting) has, as predicted ’gone dark’. He has gone dark because he has been asked to qualify various claims and assertions which he has made in regard to UA.
I do believe it to be perfectly reasonable to ask him for proof of his assertions. However, in all my time reading his posts, he has never been known to respond accordingly.
Shame on you Dunn, it is so easy to be done with you and your failures. Perhaps there is some truth in the reports that you were fired by Delta?
I completely agree with Scott Kirby, it's about time someone proudly says the truth.
There's a reason why United are the dominant airline in the US and flies to the US, if it wasn't for protectionist attitudes from shthole countries, United will dominate Asia and Europe with it's clearly superior products.
It is less than 10 years since United dragged off a plane that poor Vietnamese-American Doctor by his feet, breaking his teeth and causing other injuries to make way for United’s own crew to fly in his seat. That must have cost United millions in terms of compensation and reputational damage. Scott Kirby was President at the time but not the CEO. At the time, United management kept telling the media that the Doctor was disruptive, while live videos on social media were showing the opposite. United may be ok today, in large part due to Kirby and his team, but it has a lot of baggage in its history. To be described as the greatest airline in history would need multi-decades of consistent perfection and United is nowhere near this. Positive communications despite the facts cannot achieve this.
Yup. Too darn hot, looks like a giant strip mall and full of people originally from south of the border. It's truly as American as it gets
I feel you are being overly critical of a man who is build a great, not good, as hard as he can to build a great, not good airline. All USA airlines lag behind some phenomenal airlines but he is trying. He might not travel outside the USA and be as worldly as some airlines leaders, but why is that a requirement to love his airline and the USA. I'll take him overt Robert Isom any day
Remember that time Tim D (not me, also Tim D) responded to actual questions with actual answers instead of deflecting?
No, nobody? Me neither.
Also can somebody point me in the direction of this LAX-EWR 739 discussion? I just made popcorn but it’s too hard to narrow down which post contains what.
Kirby needs to go back to the White House and once again, get down on his knees. He's quite good at it.
to Scott Kirby: I NEVER took any drugs in my life, but reading published lines from Scott Kirby lately and now seeing this statement from this man, i really wonder, …. can somebody tell me where i could get the drugs, this guy is swallowing daily to believe his own crazy things, he is publicly saying?
THIS airline, that has caused me more trouble on my itineraries that ANY other US carrier i flew! Are people these days all on drugs to listen and believe the stuff this guy announces or is it a must these days to be drugged or drunk enough to not see the real happenings anymore?
As predicted Timothy Wayne Dunn, has been true to form, he scuttles off to seek sanctuary from those who would question him about his posts. Such a failure, such a fraud perhaps?
Definitely a coward who believes that he knows everything there is to know about U.S. civil aviation. In reality it would appear that he cannot back up a single assertion with hard facts.
I once believed him to be the victim of harassment by others because he criticised their favourite airline. I was wrong. He is nothing more than a self serving simpleton of no consequence. However, Walter Mitty Dunn does have his uses, as a click generator for Ben.
Keep at it Scott and you could be POTUS soon. Because, apparently speaking from your butt is what it takes these days.
Well, if United is the world’s best airline, then the United States must be the world’s best country… and Scott Kirby must be the smartest person alive. ♂️
Looks like Mother Nature did a number on United's operations yesterday, as Mother Nature does during the summer. All kinds of hubs in the US got hit by thunderstorms yesterday as the Big Mama had her own fireworks show.
United ended up cancelling more mainline flights than any other US airline and horror of horrors, they are starting off today with the largest number of cancelations among mainline airlines. No reset of UA's operation overnight
doesn't sound like United is running the world's best operation which happens when you over schedule your hubs to the point that the FAA has to step in and cap capacity
The only real question that remains unanswered is the question to rebel regarding how United could lead the industry in profits last year in the first quarter and end up with a $1.6 billion earnings deficit to Delta by the end of the year.
Of course the other big question for the decade is how much of United's hide Delta will take on the West Coast and across the Pacific before United quits saying that it's the world's best
Of course, you have a ready set of BS excuses when DL goes into minor meltdown and its scheduling software goes SNAFU. Yeah, we had a thunderstorm here in Chicago yesterday. It certainly helped vis-a-vis the heat. Yes, there was some schedule disruption. Yet, Timbits, we don't have control of the weather (yet) and these things happen. And they happen to DL as well. My last straw with DL was being treated like human garbage during a weather-related irrops at MSP. Tell me to my face that it didn't happen, that Delta is the "only perfect airline".
No, I don't get into the endless pi78img matches about statistics that move up and down on a regular basis . I know full well that there were thunderstorms all over the Midwest yesterday. There are plenty of people on here that try to make mountains out of mole hills based on pretty small movements of data and I am just showing you and everyone else the complete irony that United failed at the very things that they accuse other airlines of failing at.
in terms of day to day operations, Delta and United are pretty well neck and neck. The difference whether some people can accept it or not is the baggage handling rate where United is significantly lower than Delta.
United is a good airline but has yet to deliver the totality of what it takes to be called best
And Pan Am was a financial disaster. It was a great pioneer though
Totally agree and would even go further to say I never feel patriotic rather ashamed at the sad state of this country.
Walter, please tell us all why you have once again systematically failed to respond to requests for proof of your assertions? I am still awaiting a sensible response to the question below:
No. 1. You post: “No other airline has had the FAA step in as many times as United has had”.
I ask: What proof do you have?
This needs evidence. What counts as a “Step in”? Increased oversight? Audits? Groundings? I say that without defining the metric or citing data, it’s an unsupported assertion.
No. 2. You post: “United has mismanaged its hubs through over scheduling”.
I ask: What proof do you have?
Over scheduling can contribute to operational issues, but calling it “Mismanagement” is an opinion unless supported by evidence comparing United’s scheduling with other carriers.
No. 3. You post: “As it attempts to eliminate competitors and dominate markets”.
I ask: What proof do you have?
This attributes motive without evidence. Airlines schedule aggressively to maximize aircraft utilization, market share and profitability. That’s not the same as attempting unlawful monopolization.
No. 4. You post: “Which the federal government will not allow”.
I ask: What proof do you have?
If the government “Will not allow” it, then the implication that United is successfully pursuing such a strategy is contradictory. Competition law is enforced based on evidence of anti competitive conduct, not simply because an airline has a large hub.
No. 5. You post: “My statements are correct no matter how much you dislike them”.
I ask yet again: What proof do you have that your “Statements are correct”?
Your statement is simply rhetoric, not argument. Whether someone likes or dislikes a claim has no bearing on whether it is actually true.
Now Walter, take your time, think before you respond and answer the questions one at a time with actual proof …. Yes?
Helpful (2)
Singapore Airlines, Qatar, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Turkish Airlines, ANA and JAL are laughing in the corner.... 🙂
The most profitable maybe, but the best? Absolutely not.
Except United isn't close to being the most profitable airline. It made just two thirds of what Delta made last year and Turkish has become the most profitable airline now that the ME3 are on ice.
It is still true that if you are really good, you don't have to tell other people because they know it. It is precisely because United isn't near as good as it thinks it is that it constantly has to tell itself and everyone else. And yet the reality is that in most metrics other than size United is second tier
It is clear that all these people who think that the United States, the greatest country on the face of the planet are people who have never been anywhere else.
There is no day like today that is better for an American to put a Brit into its place.
One would assume that there is a basic working knowledge of the airline industry that someone who wants to comment on this or other aviation forums has before they open their flap. Ben covers most of the relevant stories in aviation and he has covered just about every topic that you raise below. It is not my or anybody else's problem that you are ignorant and unwilling to do some basic research.
but just for a couple. There is no other airline that has had the FAA step into its hubs and limit capacity because of over scheduling. The answer is ZERO. Ben has covered on multiple occasions the FAA's intervention at Chicago which was a direct result of United's stated attempt to push American out of the market which was well covered throughout business and general media
I am sorry if you are in over your head on this site. No one told you that you had to come here to trash other people because of your ignorance.
and the questions that matter are 1. How come United lost its profit lead last year and ended up$1.6 billion in the hole by the end of the year?
and the question for this year is how big the gap will be between Delta and United's earnings.
And the question for this decade will be how much of United's West Coast and Pacific network Delta intends to overlap on in order to gain the success it has had against American and Jetblue in the Northeast
Some interesting posts Walter …. time for you to go dark again as I am preparing another round of questions for you darlink. I am aware that you cannot justify your assertions, therefore, you will resort to type and chicken out by pretending that my questions have not been posted. Xxxx
Thank you Walter you have most definitely ‘done’ yourself by proving beyond any reasonable doubt, that it is you who has placed your ignorance in full view of the readers.
You cannot answer reasonable questions, provide checkable facts to back up your claims and therefore have to resort to producing gobbledygook to cover your ignorance.
As for “An American to put a Brit into its place”. Walter, what arrogance you possess. In your dreams, sprog.
For your information Walter, real American men have tried to do just that. Like you old snot rag, they failed miserably too don’t you know. However, not one of them cried like the snivelling coward which you have become, nor, did they slink away to lick their wounds because they could not face the shame or consequences.
The bottom line is Walter, you are a fraud. You mix a little truth with mammoth assertions and actually believe that you are correct. Then when exposed for what you really are, you slink away or attempt to filibuster your way out of the hole which you have dug for yourself. Poor United Airlines, your perceived escape plan which fails you every time.
We all know he's pandering to Trump and hoping to get his JetBlue merger approved
It's actually hard to imagine any US airline getting within the top 10 airlines in the world, or even the top 25, if you have honest ratings taken.
But, the American ego and boastfulness always shines through.
For goodness sake Scott, get you bum on a Singapore Airlines plane, and you may find that United is a distant 25th or something similar. They are after all, your Star Alliance partner, so you could even do it using points, so you don’t have to shell out cash.
Going from SIA to United is like being downgraded from first to economy.
Now, as far as the US being the best country in the world, you have obviously no idea how some other countries live. Canada is 10 times better to live, just as Australia where I live is. Try getting out a bit more Scott , and you might see that the US probably 30
@Tim
It is good to get your actual view of Delta, "If you are really good, you don't have tell other people because they know." Indeed a paraphrase of Margaret Thatcher's "Being powerful is like being a lady, if you have to tell people you are, you are not".
With both Delta and you posting here there and everywhere how premium and great Delta is, it must mean that Delta is the absolute opposite of great. We appreciate your clarity on this point.
LOL "Our strength is that we allow success and failure to happen naturally". If that were even remotely true I might even approach agreement.
But instead we have a president who grifts taxpayer money for personal enrichment, and gives handouts to his wealthy "friends". Insider trading is rampant. Businesses and CEOs privatize profits and socialize losses. Meanwhile people are starving and can't afford medical bills.