It seems the skies are becoming a bit too cozy for some.
In an unexpected twist, United Airlines’ CEO was recently spotted enjoying first-class amenities on a flight with competitor American Airlines. This is particularly intriguing given that he’s been known to critique the airline, his former employer, and even suggested a merger after they parted ways a decade earlier.
Scott Kirby, 58, was captured in a snapshot on an American Airlines flight departing from San Francisco International Airport last Friday. The image was shared by flight attendant Kristine Tiley, who fondly remembered her former boss.
“Guess who was in my first class today from SFO? Such a great guy,” Tiley posted on Facebook, adding, “Just as charming as he was back then. He misses us, lol. Says hello to everyone.”
The post quickly stirred up social media, leaving many puzzled as to why United’s top executive opted to fly with a competing airline instead of his own.
Despite his current position, Kirby retains lifetime travel perks with American Airlines, a benefit stemming from his tenure as the company’s president from 2013 to 2016.
In his final year, American Airlines let Kirby go, paving the way for his rival, Robert Isom, to move up to CEO of the company, with the two men becoming heated adversaries in the industry.
Thanks to his contract, Kirby was able to immediately work for a competitor, with the businessman settling at United — where he helped pushed the airline to success while constantly taking jabs at his old workplace and nemesis.
Kirby has most recently been trying to push for the two airlines to merge together, even pitching the idea directly to President Trump during a February meeting, sources told Reuters.
The United CEO eventually confirmed last month that he had been seeking a merger, but that Isom and American were not interested.
“I was confident that this combination, which would have been about adding and not subtracting, creating a truly great airline that customers love, could get regulatory approval,” Kirby said in a statement. “I was hoping to pitch that story to American, but they declined to engage and instead responded by publicly closing the door.”
With American rejecting the proposal, Kirby said he was ending his months-long pursuit to merge with the competitor.
United Airlines did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
