scott kirby

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How United’s CEO Scott Kirby Shocked The Industry By Reinventing Himself—And The Airline

by Gary Leff on October 19, 2024

Oct 19 2024

I’m genuinely struck by the shift in United Airlines CEO Scoott Kirby since taking the reins at that airline. He was President of US Airways and American Airlines under Doug Parker, and known as a straight spreadsheet guy. At US Airways he wouldn’t even add inflight wifi until he could actually see customers booking away from the airline because they didn’t have it.

United is still careful with cost, and their new premium image often outstrips the reality of the product and experience, but they make investments in customer experience others aren’t making and take risks for payoffs that will be harder to quantify. And it’s working out for the airline.

Leaked: United CEO Scott Kirby’s Grim Forecast—Low-Cost Carriers On Brink, Spirit Airlines Doomed?

by Gary Leff on August 14, 2024

Aug 14 2024

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby laid out the competitive landscape of the airline industry for his employees. United is doing well, Kirby is overly optimistic. He offers important insights but the path is far more fraught for the airline than he lets on.

United CEO Vacationed in Costa Rica During This Week’s Chaos, Preceding Delta CEO’s Paris Escape

by Gary Leff on July 24, 2024

Jul 24 2024

Delta absolutely melted down, and while employees and customers were dealing with the aftermath their CEO took off for Paris.

United’s CEO appears to have gone on vacation, too. Scott Kirby told employees and customers that he and his family were traveling through the worst of the cancellations this past Saturday.

Scott Kirby: Insights From The Maverick CEO Upending Airline Economics For United

by Gary Leff on March 12, 2024

Mar 12 2024

United dropped change fees as a competitive response to Southwest. Kirby no longer believes are travel is a commodity – as he did throughout his career – having been shown it doesn’ thave to be by Delta. Boeing is headed back into his good graces. And United is working on their new business class.

United Airlines CEO Breaks Century Old Taboo, Questions Future Of Safety

by Gary Leff on September 13, 2023

Sep 13 2023

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby warned about proposed Biden administration passenger delay compensation rules, “I do not want a pilot, I do not want a mechanic, thinking about the extra cost of delay when they’re thinking about a decision.”

United CEO: Airlines Don’t Need So Many Employees, They’re “10% Overstaffed”

by Gary Leff on September 12, 2023

Sep 12 2023

United Airlines CEO claims the entire U.S. airline industry is overstaffed by 10%. But airlines haven’t been getting more efficient, and they’ve lacked the staff to manage their operations, especially as air traffic control melts down, bad weather rolls in, and carriers like United lose control of their schedule.

United Airlines Blames This Week’s Meltdown On The FAA, Weather And… Canada

by Gary Leff on July 1, 2023

Jul 01 2023

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, who was smart enough to take a private jet rather than his own airline when he needed to travel from New York to Denver this week, shared an internal letter with his company’s employees explaining what happened as their operation melted down over the past week.

Kirby blames bad weather, FAA air traffic control staffing, and… Canada (yes, really).

United’s Operations Have Been So Bad This Week, CEO Scott Kirby Flew Private

by Gary Leff on June 30, 2023

Jun 30 2023

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby himself gave up trying to fly United when he needed to go from their Newark hub to their hub at Denver. He flew private out of Teterboro.

The airline says that United “did not pay for his flight.” However Kirby apologizes for abandoning solidarity with his employees and customers trying to get through the morass.

United Airlines Pilots Literally Turn Their Back On Scott Kirby When He Showed Up To Speak With Them

by Gary Leff on December 8, 2022

Dec 08 2022

It wasn’t surprising to see Kirby personally go down to meet picketing pilots during the airline’s board meeting in Houston. And it was a terrible look to see those pilots turn their backs on the CEO. And then for the union to brag about it!

Return Of Business Travel Has Plateaued, May Never Return To Pre-Pandemic Levels

by Gary Leff on December 6, 2022

Dec 06 2022

On CNBC this morning United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said he likes that pilot wages are going up, which is really saying he likes pilot shortages, because of what that does to competitors. Low cost carriers can’t hire pilots cheap, eroding their relative cost advantage against United.

He also revealed something interesting about business travel: it’s not continuing its recovery, and specifically that it has “plateaued”.