Bloomberg Talks United Airlines CEO Talks Travel Demand
Oct 16, 2025
Scott Kirby, the CEO of United Airlines, shares insights into the airline's optimistic outlook as international travel demand recovers. He highlights the booming corporate travel sector as a key driver of profit growth. Kirby discusses record bookings and a shift in capacity strategy to stabilize demand. He anticipates that airfares will normalize in line with inflation. The conversation also touches on labor costs and United's tech investments that enhance efficiency, all while keeping an eye on the broader economic landscape.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Resilient Revenue Mix Drives Value
- United saw strong resilience across revenue streams despite macro volatility this year.
- Scott Kirby says the company's diverse, brand-loyal model created value from basic economy to premium customers.
Corporate Travel Leads Recovery
- Corporate bookings accelerated through Q3 with record weekly corporate revenue.
- Kirby identifies corporate and premium travel as the biggest strength heading into Q4.
International Demand Nears Normal
- International traffic dipped earlier but recovered close to last year's levels by Q3.
- Kirby expects international demand to return to normal soon.