AMERICAN Airlines has said that it was not interested in a merger with United Airlines and had not held any such talks, diminishing prospects of an industry-reshaping deal that would face tough regulatory scrutiny.
A combination of two of the largest US network carriers would mark the biggest consolidation move in more than a decade, further tightening a domestic market already dominated by four similarly sized players. Including international flights, United and American were already the world’s two largest airlines by available capacity in 2025, according to studies.
That scale would, however, invite extraordinary scrutiny from regulators, labour unions and consumer advocates wary of higher fares and reduced competition, leaving the deal with slim chances of approval, analysts and industry officials have said.
“While changes in the broader airline marketplace may be necessary, a combination with United would be negative for competition and for consumers,” American Airlines said, adding that such a deal would be inconsistent with its understanding of the Trump administration’s approach to antitrust enforcement.
United Airlines declined to comment, while the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The White House has previously said it has no opinion on a potential United Airlines deal for American Airlines.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby pitched the potential for merging with American Airlines in a meeting with US President Donald Trump in late February.
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