United Airlines probes merger with Delta, eyes American Airlines

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby reached out to Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian with a proposal to merge the two carriers, a deal that could have created the largest U.S. airline by market value. The discussion remained at an early, exploratory stage and did not move beyond preliminary talks, with both companies continuing independently. United has also approached American Airlines for a similar combination, which American has declined. The merger consideration highlighted United's strategy to pursue large‑scale consolidation despite anticipated antitrust hurdles in the United States.