United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby was in Houston yesterday voicing a recurring theme, asserting that United is a “three-year-old startup embedded in a 98-year-old airline.” What does he mean and is he correct? United Airlines, The 2020 “Startup” Carrier Speaking to both members of the media and local Houston officials and later to employees, Kirby […]
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby Reflects On 9/11
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has penned his thoughts as we reflect upon the 9/11 attacks 22 years later. Scott Kirby, United Airlines CEO, Emphasizes Service As He Reflects On 9/11 Unlike his predecessor Oscar Munoz, Kirby typically prefers video over written notes. Today, however, he posted the following note concerning the 22nd anniversary of […]
In Defense Of United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby: Those Calling On Him To Resign Are Crazy
There is no question that United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby erred in taking a private jet to his home in Colorado while his airline melted down and thousands of passengers and crew members were stranded. But calls for his resignation strike me as equally tone deaf and counterproductive. Kirby is human…he messed up here…but he […]
Pete Buttigieg Rejects Blame From United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby Over Travel Disruptions
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the union representing United Airlines’ pilots have pushed back against the narrative of United CEO Scott Kirby in blaming the Federal Aviation Administration and its shortage of air traffic controllers for the operational woes United is experiencing this week. Pete Buttigieg Vs. Scott Kirby On United Airlines Delays Earlier this […]
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby Says Russian Airspace Should Be Off-Limits To All Carriers Serving USA
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has asserted that Russian airspace should be off-limits to any carrier that wishes to serve the United States. United Airlines CEO Kirby: Foreign Carriers Flying To USA Via Russian Airspace Is a “Crisis In The Making” In a prophetic-like manner before a gaggle of reporters at the IATA conference in […]
Cute Mother’s Day Note From United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby
A number of people have shared with me a Mother’s Day note that United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby sent to employees today (and also posted on his Instagram page). 2023 Mother’s Day Note From Scott Kirby, United Airlines CEO Here’s the note in full: Happy Mother’s Day to the two most important influences on my life. […]
Holiday Note From United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby recorded a very cute video and penned a brief note to employees ahead of the 2022 Christmas holiday. 2022 Holiday Note From United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby Kiby has a really cute family and each year he gets in front of the camera with his wife and kids and records […]
Three Things United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby Is Thankful For
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is a thankful man. In his 2022 Thanksgiving Day message to employees, shared with Live and Let’s Fly, Kirby reflected upon three things for which he is most grateful for. United Airlines CEO Kirby Most Thankful For There Three Things On Thanksgiving Day 2022 First, Kirby is about to be a […]
Four Pillars That Will Make United Airlines “The Biggest And The Best Airline In The History Of Aviation” According To CEO Scott Kirby
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has laid out four pillars he says are necessary for United to become “the biggest and the best airline in the history of aviation.” United Airlines CEO Outlines The Four Pillars That Will Lead To Growth And Dominance In a video message to employees reviewed by Live and Let’s Fly, Kirby […]
United CEO Scott Kirby Returns To Face The Nation
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby returned to CBS’s Face the Nation yesterday to discuss the latest travel trends. While most of his answers were familiar talking points, we did gain some additional insight on travel to Asia and how long masks will be required onboard. Scott Kirby Returns To Face The Nation Travel Demand Won’t […]
Scott Kirby’s European Vacation And The Absurdity Of State Department Travel Warnings
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby recently sat down with David Ignatius of The Washington Post. Live and Let’s Fly will examine the wide-ranging interview in a series of post. United CEO: I’m Going To Europe On Vacation! Kirby talks about pent up travel demand, his first trip with his wife (presumably since the pandemic started, […]
United CEO Scott Kirby On Face The Nation
United CEO Scott Kirby appeared on CBS’s Face The Nation yesterday. I want to unpack some of the statements he made concerning the current state of the airline industry. Five Takeaways From United CEO Scott Kirby On Face The Nation Here are a few things that caught my attention in no particular order. 1. Kirby […]
Labor Day Message From United CEO Scott Kirby
United CEO Scott Kirby has not written many holiday notes during his brief tenure and seems to prefer video messages, something his predecessor never missed. But this is a bittersweet Labor Day for United Airlines and the entire airline industry and Kirby used the opportunity to share a family story in his 2020 note. 2020 […]
What Scott Kirby Told United Employees About Impending Furloughs
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has delivered a somber yet strangely uplifting address to employees concerning impending furloughs in a video message reviewed by Live and Let’s Fly. United CEO Scott Kirby Informs Employees Of Coming Furloughs Kirby said he was “saddened” to deliver what would probably be his “hardest” video message ever. There was […]
Scott Kirby’s Plan To Save Jobs At United Airlines
United CEO Scott Kirby has reached out to employees with a broad vision to avoid furloughs and job cuts in October. But the devil remains in the details… In the first of a new video series to employees called “Straight from Scott”, Kirby talks about his trip out in to “the system” as CEO. The […]
Scott Kirby Channels His Inner-Winston Churchill
Scott Kirby sees himself, whether he admits it or not, as a wartime leader in the vein of Wintson Churchill. His address to employees earlier today makes this clear. I covered his speech to employees earlier today, but wanted to dedicate a separate post to one portion that truly caught my eye. “One of my […]
What Scott Kirby Told United Employees Today
Scott Kirby was much more himself in his welcome video to employees versus his welcome video to the public. Even as a consumer, I found his internal speech much more compelling. Scott Kirby Does Not Mince Words In a 4.5 minute video to United employees shared internally this morning and viewed by Live and Let’s […]
Letter From New United CEO Scott Kirby Does Not Sound Like Kirby
I’ve read memos from United’s new CEO Scott Kirby for years. I’ve heard him speak. I’ve met him on multiple occasions. A video letter to United customers simply does not sound like him. But it’s the first step in his evolution from the man pulling the puppet strings to officially being the man in charge. […]
United Airlines Prepares To Officially Enter The Kirby Era
On May 20, 2020 United President Scott Kirby will officially become the new Chief Executive Officer. How will consumers, employees, and shareholders react? Kirby: Hope Is Not A Strategy In several pieces over the last two months I have highlighted Kirby’s contrarian approach to COVID-19. While every major airline has acknowledged that it will emerge […]
United’s Doomsday Strategy May Lead To Kirby Kutbacks…
Earlier today I wrote about United’s aggressive steps to combat an unprecedented drop in demand and revenue. But what might some of these measures mean for customers? Are Kirby Kutbacks Coming? Incoming United CEO Scott Kirby has been a shrewd operator throughout his career at America West, US Airways, American Airlines, and now United. He’s […]
