United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby confirmed that he approached American Airlines about a potential merger between the two major U.S. carriers, but discussions have since ended after American rejected the proposal.

The merger talks would have combined two of the world's largest airlines, creating significant consolidation in the U.S. aviation industry. Kirby defended the potential combination, arguing it would have created jobs, offered more affordable flying options for consumers, and better positioned the merged entity to compete with foreign carriers.

American Airlines ultimately declined the merger proposal, leading to the end of discussions between the two companies. The rejection effectively abandons United's pursuit of its rival carrier.

A merger between United and American would have represented massive consolidation in the airline industry, combining two of the largest U.S. carriers by fleet size and passenger volume. Such a combination would likely have faced significant regulatory scrutiny from federal antitrust authorities.

Both airlines continue to operate as separate entities following the conclusion of the unsuccessful merger discussions. The airline industry has seen various consolidation efforts over the past two decades, though major mergers typically face extensive regulatory review processes.