United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has shared his annual Memorial Day message with employees, thanking servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice, veterans, and all United employees. In his 2025 remarks, Kirby also called the United States “the greatest country in the history of the planet” and gave employees a pep talk for the coming summer travel season.
2025 Memorial Day Message From United Airlines CEO
Let’s take a look at Kirby’s remarks via a video shared with employees over the weekend, then I’ll offer some thoughts.
Memorial Day marks the start of the busy summer travel season and this will be our busiest Memorial Day and our busiest summer in history. But I want to acknowledge and thank everyone who’s made the ultimate sacrifice to make the United States the greatest country in the history of the planet.
But also all the veterans who are here, and we have many of them, so thank you for your time and service.
But I also really want to thank everyone here at United for making us the best airline in the world. You’re doing an amazing job overcoming all the challenges that get thrown our way, and let’s just keep focused on doing exactly that.
Take care of each other, take care of the customers, know that we are and are going to be the best airline in this history of aviation. So thank you for everything that you’re doing.
Last year, Kirby also called the United States “the greatest country in the history of Earth” and lauded those who “put their lives on the line to keep this the greatest country on Earth and to be a beacon of democracy, hope, and freedom for the rest of the world,” in his Memorial Day message.
This year, there’s a new administration in power and Kirby has deliberately pivoted United from a carrier that emphasized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and forced a vaccine mandate on employees to a company that has gone out of its way to flatter President Trump and other top administration officials like Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy as it seeks to reintroduce slot controls at its fortress hub in Newark and also return to New York JFK via a partnership with JetBlue.
Kirby has used his “biggest” and “best” language to describe United for years, but it is true that United is gearing up for a busy summer travel season:
- United is expecting to fly about 3.8 million people this Memorial Day weekend (between May 22 – 28), around 300,000 more than last year.
- On average, United is expecting 540,000 people a day to fly United during the Memorial Day Weekend travel period, with the airline operating over 4,600 flights daily (averaging three takeoffs every minute).
- Friday, May 23rd was the busiest travel day with 550,000 passengers traveling
- United’s top domestic destinations this Memorial Day Weekend are:
- Orlando (MCO)
- Las Vegas (LAS)
- Boston (BOS)
- San Diego (SAN)
- United’s top international destinations this Memorial Day Weekend are:
- Cancun (CUN)
- London (LHR)
- Frankfurt (FRA)
- United expects around 50 million people to fly United this June, July, and August, about 3 million more than last year.
This summer, United is inaugurating 17 new flights in total this summer and will offer up to 950 daily flights to and from 144 international destinations in total (including 37 that no other U.S. airline serves).
United is kicking off summer with flights to ten new cities, including: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Kaohsiung, Taiwan (a separate nation from the People’s Republic of China); Nuuk, Greenland; Palermo, Italy; Bilbao, Spain; Madeira Island, Portugal; Faro, Portugal; Dakar, Senegal; Puerto Escondido, Mexico and Regina, Canada.
After initial signs of slowing in March, there seems to be little downturn in travel.
CONCLUSION
Kirby’s “best and largest” language, even calling the USA the greatest nation ever is not new: it is a recurring theme in his Memorial Day speeches and indeed many of his speeches. As United gears up for a very busy summer travel season, it is playing a game of cheese in New York City, hoping to solidify its dominance in Newark while also returning to JFK.
image: @scottkirby / Instagram
A true statement.
Not really. Several countries rank higher in standard of living indexes. US isn’t even in the top 20 in quality of democracy.
Could be. But the USA is the greatest protector of people’s rights in the world. And that what counts for me.
What flavor of Kool Aid did Kirby drink? This video is from 12 years ago, and still applies:
Newsroom was BRILLIANT. I think a rewatch is coming up…….
He is setting up an outright purchase of JetBlue outright. If he flatters Trump. It will help the DOJ approve the transaction.
@Isaac,
Bingo.
It’s disingenuous at best. I always kind of liked Scott Kirby, but this makes me nauseated.
And UA’s EWR hub is smaller than it has been in decades thanks to the FAA’s decision that enough over scheduling is enough…which ensures that DL will carry the most traffic in/out of NYC this year and likely into the future
And UA’s flights from SFO are not catered or so chaotic that it takes FAs halfway across the Pacific to find anything
with those numbers, maybe a focus city at MCO is appropriate.
Could even launch a few intercontinental routes there, since there is some demand
While America is a great country, there are a few countries that might actually be the greatest country on Earth. I can explain but it might be lengthy.
Liechtenstein for its own sacrifice for humanitarian causes in 1945.
Palau
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Singapore
Holy See
India (I disagree but there are reasons)
Tuvalu
Countries that not great include Russia, Afghanistan, Canada, etc.
WFT is a game of cheese?
I am uncertain whether Matthew unwittingly copied a press release or if he is a stooge of the Chinese Communist Party and the People’s Republic of China. Matthew wrote, near the end of the article, the following:
United is kicking off summer with flights to ten new cities, including: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Kaohsiung; Nuuk, Greenland; Palermo, Italy; Bilbao, Spain; Madeira Island, Portugal; Faro, Portugal; Dakar, Senegal; Puerto Escondido, Mexico and Regina, Canada.
Every city follows the country, except Kaohsiung. There is no mention that Kaohsiung is in the Republic of China (Taiwan). It isn’t even written as Kaohsiung, Taiwan. United omits the country because it doesn’t want to offend the People’s Republic of China, who insists that Taiwan is not a country but part of their country. United doesn’t want to create fiction and offense by writing Kaohsiung, Province of Taiwan, China. That is why they just put the city.
Actually, the UK made a blunder in 1776. They should have continued to insist of the One Britain Policy where the USA is a county of the UK. They could say that if you have an embassy in London, you cannot have one in Washington, D.C. So the French government might have an embassy in London and a Paris Trade Representative Office in Washington, DC and the Americans would have an unofficial Washington Trade and Cultural Office in Paris.
China claims that Taiwan is a breakaway, illegal province and are separatists. They are wrong. It is the People’s Republic of China that is the separatists. The Republic of China was around for decades when Communists rebels took over parts of China and established their own separatist government.
At most, if the world doesn’t want to take sides, they should just say that there are two Chinas, just like there are two Koreas (with South Korea claiming the north and North Korea claiming the south) or there used to be West Germany and East Germany, neither claiming the other.
Matthew, please do not be a stooge of the People’s Republic of China.
When have I ever been a stooge of the PRC?
I’ve added Taiwan…thank you for bringing it to my attention.
I didn’t think you were a stooge of the PRC so that puts the idea to rest.
A typo places Puerto Escondido in Taiwan! Or is Taiwan the newest Mexican state! (Puerto Escondido, Taiwan, Mexico)
@ Tim Dunn — And Delta continues to fly its POS 767-300s to the most destinations worldwide!
@Tim Dunn, yes Delta will keep flying to nowhere interesting with a very inconsistent product…
Kinda funny that Delta needs the FAA to help it keep its market share in this day and age.
United will have a larger fleet of 763s by the end of the year than Delta as Delta retires and replaces 767s with aircraft with Delta One suites.
Delta has 65 widebodies with D1 suites in service and that number will grow by a dozen by the end of the year
It is United that has no suite equipped aircraft in service and still flies scores of dated, gas guzzling 777s and 767s
And at least a dozen cities in United’s European and Asian networks are flown by narrow bodies that have products are nowhere suitable for international networks
None of which changes that the fear porn about Newark and United’s cuts is sending thousands more passengers per day to DL’s LaGuardia and JFK hubs.
DL will be the largest airline in NYC in 2025, caters its flights unlike UA at SFO and there will be no B6 merger with UA
That’s because UA flies from GUM and NRT. Delta does not
Narrowbodies make sense there
it isn’t about the GUM hub.
there are about a dozen cities across the Atlantic where UA uses narrowbodies – either 737s or 757s that AA and DL no longer use to the UK or beyond.
If UA has such a great product, then using aircraft that have it makes sense.
And Andy, United could have had the FAA limit the number of flights at Newark just like LaGuardia and JFK have but United failed to use its slots according to FAA regulations and so is no longer slot controlled. United has no one to blame but itself.
@ Tim — Suites with doors do not make for a better experience. The last DL flight I took with suites was also filled with broken doors. Not prenium.
United has finally outsmarted Delta. Too bad for you, Timmy.
I know that lots of Americans steadfastly believe this to be true, and are often surprised to learn that most foreigners don’t hold the same opinion.
Is Kirby auditioning to be Criminal Trump II?
He sounds just as ridiculous and not for the first time.
What are stupid idiot you are.
Oh dear a Trump supporter, most won’t admit it these days Ron with a Mo at the beginning.
Only in your wet dreams is United outsmarting Delta at anything esp since United is copying most of Delta’s strategies about a decade late
You do realize that Delta has free high speed WiFi on scores of flights over the Atlantic now, the largest global free WiFi network in the world and it is still growing. Is United’s first RJ prototype In service?
And delta outsmarted United in NYC, Gene. 20% more flights from all 3 airports and the FAA isn’t forcing cuts at LGA or JFK
And Delta flights are leaving with food, something UA could wish were happening at SFO.
Don’t worry though, Gene. United will blame their lower profits on the AFA settlement instead of the loss of passengers to DL
@ Tim — I have free high speed wifi on ALL of my UNITED flights, including transapacific and transatlantic. In this “what have you done for me lately” world, United is indeed wining by using the same corrupt tactics that Delta once used. Delta is so 2000s…
He speaks absolute truth – and I applaud him for it.
Makes me even more inclined to dump American Airlines and defect to United (I’m 80% there).
Gene,
we realize that it is IMPOSSIBLE for you to admit that DL leads the industry and UA has figured it out and copied what it can but I too had free T Mobile WiFi on DL long before DL upgraded it to high speed WiFi.
and, no, you don’t have high speed WiFi whether it comes from T Mobile or not because UA does not have the equipment on most of its fleet to support high speed WiFi and doesn’t have a provider that offers it.
Just like your assertion about broken suite doors, you stretch the truth so much that you are the Pinocchio of airline aviation chat sites.
and, DL has long paid its people well. United just realized they had to get it done w/ their FAs unless they went to see every corporate event crashed by the AFA. You gotta give them 2 thumbs up for doing what it takes to get a deal.
and up to 40% raises are going to knock UA even further out of DL’s financial league.
you always are good for a laugh…. I do hope UA manages to board some food on your flight
Nice to see How Timmy spent his Memorial Day. In the comment section, per usual.
It really does get sadder and sadder.
just say that you don’t like the facts that I bring to the table, Max.
clearly, Tuesday after Memorial Day leaves you in the position of having nothing meaningful to do. your self righteous hypocrisy is noted.
btw, DL’s free high speed WiFi on scores of flights across the Atlantic works beautifully.
didn’t read what you wrote, cupcake. Sorry. Just saw your name over and over with your usual buzzwords. But given how you replied, it seems you’re spouting the normal ignorant nonsense.
Get a life. Yes. I have things to do. You don’t seem to. Just acknowledge you don’t have any friends or hobbies and move on.
and you continue to be fixated what other people do, a clear sign that you really have nothing to contribute but can’t stand that someone else does
Just. Walk. Away.
do you contribute though? Your data is often flat out wrong but you refuse to admit it or else name call others rather than admit when you’re wrong.
The guy that spent his entire Memorial day responding to just about EVERYONE in the comments says I’m fixated? That’s pretty rich.
Happy Tuesday, Tim. Let’s hope you get outside today.
you mean you don’t like the data I present – so call it wrong.
again, if you have nothing to contribute, WALK AWAY.
quit fixating on who posts what and when.
You are the one that is to be pitied given that you are fixated on what other people do.
Oh sweet tim
Be less of a troll
Everyone knows you don’t present data. You never have. You present nonsense with madness then attack others like me with actual data.
It’s why you’re banned so many places.
Stop posting like a crazy person on a holiday
Maybe then you’ll be assumed to be less crazy 😉
Or just regular crazy which your normal bans already assumes
Go to bed, cupcake, you’re losing 😉
today is not a holiday anywhere I am, Max.
it is so perfectly obvious that you are fixated with the fact that I post.
You have nothing to contribute other than your jealousy. If the data I presented was wrong, you could present your own w/ sources.
Show some self-respect and Just. Walk. Away
@MaxPower: I love your contribution to this blog over the years and appreciate your input–I really do. I hope you will continue to read and comment. You’re always welcome here. But I deleted your last comment: it was an unnecessary personal attack. Frankly, you entered this discussion criticizing Tim for the way he spent his Memorial Day rather than taking issue with any of the specific points he made. There was no need for that and here I thought Tim’s points were reasonable. Let’s please debate/discuss issues, not people.
@ Tim — Well, then can you explain how I have had hi-speed wifi on 100% of my UA flights between US and LHR, AMS, CDG, HKG, MEL in the past year? Luck?
UA does not offer high speed WiFi. Their own website calls it “standard” WiFi right next to the “Starlink is coming” ad.
You can’t even stream video on UA widebodies, also according to their site.
As much as you love to embellish the truth, this one is pretty easy to spot.
And DL DOES offer free high speed WiFi on dozens of flights across the Atlantic in addition to the over 700 domestic aircraft.
Just admit it, Gene.
DL is way ahead of UA and has given UA the playbook that UA is using to elevate its product.
Gross. This man knows no shame.