{{short description|American airline executive}} {{Infobox person | name = Scott Kirby | image = Scott Kirby, United Airlines.jpg | caption = Kirby in 2018 | birth_name = John Scott Kirby | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|8|13}} | birth_place = | education = United States Air Force Academy (BS)<br>George Washington University (MS) | occupation = Business executive | predecessor = Oscar Munoz | children = 7 | employer = United Airlines | title = CEO of United Airlines }} '''John Scott Kirby'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Browse Individual contributions |url=https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Scott+John+Kirby&max_date=12%2F31%2F2020 |website=FEC.gov |accessdate=27 August 2020 |language=en}}</ref> (born August 13, 1967) is an American executive and the CEO of United Airlines. He was president of US Airways, American Airlines, and United Airlines, later being promoted as CEO.
==Early life and education== Kirby was raised in Rowlett, Texas, the oldest of six children. In high school, he played baseball and football, and had aspirations of becoming a professional athlete.<ref name="EVT">{{cite news |last1=Natale |first1=Tony |title=A 'take charge' guy soars high |url=https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/money/a-take-charge-guy-soars-high/article_37386d9c-66f6-5295-91c0-1e57af52c452.html |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |work=East Valley Tribune |date=April 29, 2007}}</ref> He received a bachelor's degree in computer science and operations research in 1989 from the United States Air Force Academy, where he trained to be a pilot. He later earned a master's degree in operations research at the George Washington University.<ref name=EVT/><ref name="CNBC">{{cite news |last1=Josephs |first1=Leslie |title=United Airlines' next CEO is a 'details guy' who will have labor contracts and the 737 Max on his plate |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/06/uniteds-new-ceo-faces-labor-talks-and-the-possible-return-of-the-737-max.html |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |publisher=CNBC |date=December 6, 2019}}</ref>
==Career== Early in his career, Kirby worked at the Pentagon as a budget analyst for the United States Secretary of Defense for three years. He later worked for Sabre Decision Technologies (SDT), a subsidiary of AMR Corporation within the tourism and transport industries.<ref name=EVT/>
Kirby joined America West Airlines in 1995,<ref name="WSJ">{{cite news |title=United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz to Step Down |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/united-airlines-names-president-scott-kirby-ceo-effective-in-may-11575553050 |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=December 5, 2019 |first1=Alison |last1=Sider |first2=Doug |last2=Cameron}}</ref> working in various executive roles.<ref name=EVT/><ref name="DallasNews">{{cite news |last1=Maxon |first1=Terry |title=Kirby and Goulet to lead American Airlines-US Airways planning for merger |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2013/02/25/kirby-and-goulet-to-lead-american-airlines-us-airways-planning-for-merger/ |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |work=The Dallas Morning News |date=February 25, 2013}}</ref> Kirby began as president of US Airways in September 2006,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zumbach |first1=Lauren |title=New United CEO Scott Kirby is known as a 'details guy' who spent years prepping for the role, including at rival American Airlines |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-united-airlines-ceo-oscar-munoz-20191205-w53ivevtznbknljf6aqkdhzpja-story.html |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=December 5, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=US Airways names new president |journal=Phoenix Business Journal |date=September 29, 2006 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2006/09/25/daily49.html |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |publisher=American City Business Journals}}</ref> after it merged with America West in 2005.<ref name="Bloomberg">{{cite news |title=United's Kirby Gets Turn as an Airline CEO After Years as No. 2 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-05/united-airlines-names-kirby-ceo-as-munoz-moves-to-chairman |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |publisher=Bloomberg News |date=December 5, 2019 |first1=Justin |last1=Bachman |first2=Mary |last2=Schlangenstein}}</ref> He led US Airways' team for planning the merger.<ref name=DallasNews/> Kirby became president of American Airlines after the company merged with US Airways in 2013.<ref name=CNBC/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Niraj |first1=Chokshi |title=United C.E.O. Munoz to Step Down, 5 Years After Leading Turnaround |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/05/business/united-ceo-oscar-munoz.html |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=December 5, 2019}}</ref> He and American Airlines CEO Doug Parker worked closely together at America West, US Airways, and American.<ref name=Bloomberg/><ref>{{cite news |title=Rival CEOs at American, United Share a Long History |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/friendly-skies-ceos-at-american-united-are-longtime-colleagues-turned-rivals-11575820801 |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=December 8, 2019 |first1=Alison |last1=Sider |first2=Doug |last2=Cameron}}</ref>
Kirby became president of United Airlines in August 2016.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jansen |first1=Bart |title=United hires president dropped by American |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/08/29/united-grabs-american-president/89556830/ |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |work=USA Today |date=August 29, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Carey |first1=Susan |title=American Airlines President Moves to United Continental |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/american-airlines-president-moves-to-united-continental-1472502904 |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=August 29, 2016}}</ref> He was announced as the successor to the CEO role in December 2019, following Oscar Munoz; his tenure started in May 2020. Kirby has been credited with expanding the airline's flight network,<ref name="Reuters">{{cite news |title=United Airlines picks industry veteran Kirby for top job |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ual-ceo/united-airlines-picks-industry-veteran-kirby-for-top-job-idUSKBN1Y91KI |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |publisher=Reuters |date=December 5, 2019 |first1=Rachit |last1=Vats |first2=Tracy |last2=Rucinski}}</ref> and restructuring hubs in Chicago, Denver, and Houston.<ref>{{cite journal |title=United Airlines' Plan to Beat Delta and American Could Lower Airfares for Everybody |journal=Fortune |date=January 29, 2018 |url=https://fortune.com/2018/01/29/scott-kirby-united-ceo-lower-airfare/ |accessdate=March 18, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bachman |first1=Justin |title=United's Kirby goes rogue with plan that may spur lower airfares |url=https://www.chron.com/business/article/United-s-Kirby-goes-rogue-with-plan-that-may-spur-12535238.php |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |work=Houston Chronicle |date=January 29, 2018 |via=Bloomberg News}}</ref> Under his leadership, United holds a 3 star Skytrax rating,<ref>{{cite web|title=United Airlines Rating |url=https://skytraxratings.com/airlines/united-airlines-rating |website=Skytrax Ratings|access-date=January 18, 2026}}</ref> which remains on par with standard US carriers, but falls noticeably short compared to its overseas Star Alliance competitors.<ref>{{cite web |title=World's Top 100 Airlines 2025 |url=https://www.worldairlineawards.com/worlds-top-100-airlines-2025/ |website=World Airline Awards (Skytrax) |access-date=January 18, 2026}}</ref>
In December 2020, Kirby was elected as chairman of the Star Alliance chief executive board (CEB), succeeding former chairman Pedro Heilbron.<ref>{{cite news|title=Star Alliance Appoints United CEO Kirby as Board Chair|url=https://www.businesstravelnews.com/Global/Star-Alliance-Appoints-United-CEO-Kirby-as-Board-Chair|work=Business Travel News|first=Michael B.|last=Baker|date=December 11, 2020|access-date=December 8, 2021|language=en}}</ref>
In 2025, United faced significant operational disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport, including widespread delays and cancellations, which the airline attributed to air traffic control staffing shortages and equipment issues; the company subsequently reduced scheduled flights at the airport.<ref>{{cite news |title=United Airlines travelers face check-in issues, website and app |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/united-airlines-travelers-face-check-in-issues-website-app-2025-05-02/ |work=Reuters |date=May 2, 2025 |access-date=January 18, 2026}}</ref> Kirby later said the disruption contributed to a decline in bookings and lower ticket prices for flights out of Newark.<ref>{{cite news |title=United Airlines suffered bookings drop due to Newark chaos, says CEO |url=https://nypost.com/2025/05/29/business/united-airlines-suffered-bookings-drop-due-to-newark-chaos-says-ceo/ |work=New York Post |date=May 29, 2025 |access-date=January 18, 2026}}</ref>
In May 2025, Kirby drew criticism for remarks describing the traditional low-cost carrier business model as "dead" and characterizing the passenger experience as designed to "screw the customer."<ref>{{cite news |title=United CEO Scott Kirby slammed the budget airline model as 'dead' and 'crappy' |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/united-ceo-scott-kirby-slams-budget-airline-model-jetblue-2025-5 |work=Business Insider |date=May 29, 2025 |access-date=January 18, 2026}}</ref>
In August 2025, a technology issue involving United's flight operations system led to a temporary ground stop at multiple major hubs and disrupted more than 1,000 flights. United claimed the disruption was caused by a "technology issue" related to its flight-data system and described the resulting delays as "controllable".<ref>{{cite news |title=United Airlines flights resume after it resolves technology glitch |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/united-airlines-flights-resume-after-it-resolves-technology-glitch-2025-08-07/ |work=Reuters |date=August 7, 2025 |access-date=January 18, 2026}}</ref>
As of 2025, Kirby's compensation as CEO is $33.9 million.<ref>[https://ir.united.com/static-files/1cd01c71-9439-49e8-a521-4de417806938 2025 proxy statement]. United Airlines. </ref> He is a member of The Business Council in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Admin |title=Member List |url=https://businesscouncil.com/member-list/ |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=The Business Council |language=en-US}}</ref>
In a 2026 interview with the Wall Street Journal, Kirby claimed, "All the times I've gone to Europe, I've never once eaten a meal," in reference to travel hack suggestions towards combating jet lag.<ref>{{cite news|title=CEOs With Crazy Travel Schedules Told Us How They Crush Jet Lag|url=https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/ceos-with-crazy-travel-schedules-told-us-how-they-crush-jet-lag-3d0c0b6e?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqcFRDJ-4HUZptgYzD5t7GuHd3gccMu2B_s9-oAUvYXjGQlLPpIuI8PGHQ_AWfs%3D&gaa_ts=695b745c&gaa_sig=OCBmJNzrJUzSkdacLZFlf9cJdN64dh3HRtbxDmuhvONzN4A_LuPLzBaBGAA4V9VMxzCufRTZBN_V9EcNHuYhTg%3D%3D|work=Business Travel News|last1=Smith|first1=Ray A.|last2=Glazer|first2=Emily|date=January 4, 2026|access-date=January 18, 2026|language=en}}</ref> This was met with ridicule from online users who correlated this with United's seemingly sub-par food service relative to other carriers.
Kirby has said United will not further pursue merger deals with American Airlines or JetBlue.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mandayam |first=Nandam |date=May 27, 2026 |title=United Airlines CEO rules out consolidation push after American rebuff |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/united-airlines-ceo-rules-out-consolidation-push-after-american-rebuff-2026-05-27/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Personal life== Kirby is married and has seven children.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ir.united.com/corporate-governance/company-leadership/|title=Company Leadership - United Airlines Holdings, Inc}}</ref><ref name=EVT/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bart |first1=Jansen |title=United exec Kirby says he's no stranger to flight delays or sitting in economy |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2017/05/04/scott-kirby-understands-flight-frustrations/101295078/ |accessdate=March 18, 2020 |work=USA Today |date=May 4, 2017}}</ref> He has donated money to both Republican and Democratic politicians, and donated to Steve Bullock's presidential campaign in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Scott Kirby - $8,350 in Political Contributions for 2016 |url=https://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/scott-kirby.asp?cycle=16 |website=www.campaignmoney.com |accessdate=27 August 2020}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/1714864 J Scott Kirby] at Bloomberg.com * [https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/Interview-United-president-Scott-Kirby-13729013.php One-on-one with United president Scott Kirby] (March 31, 2019) by Chris McGinnis, ''San Francisco Chronicle''
{{s-start}} {{s-bus}} {{s-bef|before=Robert Isom}} {{s-ttl|title=President of American Airlines| years = 2016–2020}} {{s-aft|after=Brett J. Hart}} {{s-bef|before=Oscar Munoz}} {{s-ttl|title=CEO of United Airlines| years = 2020–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kirby, Scott}} Category:Living people Category:George Washington University alumni Category:1967 births Category:American chief executives in the airline industry Category:American Airlines people Category:United Airlines people Category:United States Air Force Academy alumni