By Alison Sider

United CEO Scott Kirby batted down speculation that his airline would buy JetBlue. United has a partnership with JetBlue that gives it access to slots at New York's JFK International Airport, but Kirby said it was "mathematically impossible" for United to boost JetBlue's margins enough for a merger to be worthwhile.

"The last thing I'm going to do is buy a route network that loses money," Kirby said Wednesday at an investor conference. "I never understood why everyone thought we were going to do it."

The only deal Kirby said would make financial sense is one that seems off the table. United has pursued a merger with American Airlines-a much bigger undertaking that Kirby has argued would be transformational, even though industry officials have said it would be tough to get past antitrust enforcers.

But American rejected United's overtures and President Trump didn't like the idea. Without a willing partner, Kirby doesn't see a path forward. "I don't think that United at least is going to participate in any consolidation for any time that I can see in the foreseeable future," he said.

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May 27, 2026 17:33 ET (21:33 GMT)

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