United CEO Kirby Defends Higher Airfares, Seat Fees as Costs Rise

United CEO Kirby defends higher airfares, seat fees as costs rise

United CEO Scott Kirby Calls Being Fired By American Airlines A “Betrayal”—So He Took $13 Million And Built A Stronger Rival

Scott Kirby says American Airlines promised him the CEO job, then fired him. In a new New York Times interview, United’s CEO calls it a “betrayal” and says he wanted to go elsewhere to prove something. American paid him $13 million without a non-compete, handing a rival an insider who knew its weaknesses. Doug Parker kept his job—and American got a stronger competitor led by the man he pushed out.

United’s C.E.O. Says It Should Cost More Not to Sit in the Middle Seat

After he was passed over for the top job at American Airlines, Scott Kirby said, he “wanted to go somewhere else and prove something.”