American rejects merger talks with United Airlines
An American Airlines airplane lands at Los Angeles International Airport on March 7, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Kevin Carter | Getty Images
American Airlines said on Friday that it was not interested in a merger with United Airlines and had not held any such talks, diminishing prospects of an industry-reshaping deal that would face tough regulatory scrutiny.
A combination of two of the largest U.S. network carriers would mark the biggest consolidation move in more than a decade, further tightening a domestic market already dominated by four similarly sized players. Including international flights, United and American were already the world’s two largest airlines by available capacity in 2025, according to OAG data.
That scale would, however, invite extraordinary scrutiny from regulators, labor unions and consumer advocates wary of higher fares and reduced competition, leaving the deal with slim chances of approval, analysts and industry officials have said.
There is also significant overlap between American and United, including Chicago O’Hare and major hubs in Texas.
“While changes in the broader airline marketplace may be necessary, a combination with United would be negative for competition and for consumers,” American Airlines said, adding that such a deal would be inconsistent with its understanding of the Trump administration’s approach to antitrust enforcement.
United Airlines declined to comment, while the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The White House has previously said it has no opinion on a potential United Airlines deal for American Airlines.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby pitched a potential merger with American Airlines in a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in late February, Reuters reported on Monday.
The meeting with Trump was three days before the start of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran that sent jet fuel prices soaring and has led airlines to raise fares and fees to offset higher costs.
Kirby has argued to administration officials that a combined airline would be a stronger competitor in international markets and noted the Trump administration has focused on U.S. trade deficits around the globe, according to sources.
But one person close to the White House told Reuters there was skepticism about such a tie-up, given its potential impact on competition and ticket prices at a time when the administration is already focused on rising consumer costs ahead of midterm elections in November.
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