I do love how Scott Kirby, the CEO of United Airlines, speaks his mind. During yesterday’s Q3 2025 earnings call, Kirby offered a chastising assessment of Mainland China while discussing the Trump administration’s proposed flight restrictions that would impact the ability of Chinese carriers to use Russian airspace on U.S. routes.
United Airlines CEO Chastises Mainland China, Praises Trump Administration For New Flight Restrictions
Earlier this week, I wrote about the Trump administration’s proposed plans to restrict the manner in which Chinese carriers serve the USA by prohibiting the use of Russian airspace. I pragmatically support such a move to offer a more level playing field between U.S. and Chinese carriers and as a way to punish Russia for its continued illegal aggression in Ukraine.
I find it both disappointing yet very straightforward as to why China is supporting Russia’s violence in Ukraine: it will one day attempt the same thing in Taiwan, a nation that is claimed but does not belong to the Mainland…yet.
With that context, Rajesh Singh of Reuters asked Kirby the following question during the call:
“Scott, I have a question on Russian overflights. United said this week that restrictions on flying over Russia mean you are effectively barred from flying directly to China from Chicago, Washington, or New York.
“United has called for expanding a proposed ban on Russian overflights to include Hong Kong. Should this ban be extended to other countries to bar their airlines from using Russian airspace for flights to the U.S.?
“The second part of my question is how much of a competitive disadvantage is it for U.S. airlines compared with other non-U.S. carriers that are currently using Russian airspace?”
Kirby’s response (bolding mine):
“I am going to focus on China, and I absolutely think this is just a matter of basic fairness. The Russian government does not allow U.S. airlines to fly over Russia, and we are competing with Chinese airlines that are allowed to. By the way, a country that is supporting Russia in the Ukrainian war.
“You know, a perfect example is we used to fly from New York to Hong Kong, and we cannot do it now. We are competing with a Chinese airline that is allowed to fly from New York to Hong Kong. That just isn’t right. That isn’t fair. All we want is a level playing field, and I absolutely think we should get it.
“I really appreciate that this administration is looking at the issue and focusing on the issue and has started. They’ve started with Beijing and Shanghai, and I hope they will continue the logical efforts and include, you know, the other large Chinese city, Hong Kong, in those efforts.”
I certainly appreciated that subtle dig and it’s refreshing to see him state the obvious…shame on China for its support of aggression. Unlike Israel in Gaza, this war was no act of self-defense. I also note that the brownnosing of the Trump administration continues unabated.
Why not India and the Gulf carriers too? While I’d like to see that, there is no Open Skies Agreement between the US and Mainland China, making such flight restrictions much easier. Starting with China is logical.
CONCLUSION
I appreciate that Kirby minced no words in his criticism of Mainland China over its use of Russian airspace and support of Russia in the Ukraine War. I concur that as a matter of fairness, it is time to restrict Chinese carriers from using Russian airspace on any flights to or from the USA as a condition for that service.
Fair? Kirby calling for fairness is like Stalin calling for pacifism. I literally spit out my coffee.
Of course a true level playing field is impossible, but Kirby is not wrong to call out this sort of disparity.
You’re correct about this situation. It’s just that Kirby is about the last person who should be complaining about lack of fairness. As just one instance ask United flight attendants if they think Kirby is fair. I think we know what the response will be.
Then he should be calling out the US for imposing restrictions on planes using Russian airspace. The US is the reason why the playing field is uneven.
Kirby often sways with the wind, but, he and the administration is right on this one, if they hold firm, both for safety and for economic fairness, otherwise, we’re giving Chinese carriers a competitive advantage while putting Americans who fly with them an elevated risk, lest we forget MH17, KA007, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243, and and the Smolensk air disaster, just to name a few.
I hate to break it to ol’ Kirby, but not a single thing in life is fair and there is no even playing field. If life (or business) was fair, he wouldn’t be the CEO of United and he wouldn’t be a millionaire.
Kirby is such an opportunistic piece of garbage. A real snake.
Probably from the fact that he’s shorter than six foot. Short men are really scummy, its why so many women avoid them. They know better.
Women avoid 95% of the worlds male population?
Seems like he’s focusing not on Mainland China, but CX. BTW, UA used to be the largest foreign employer at HKG pre-2019. 300 FAs and lots of ground staff.
He seems to have added Cathay Pacific, but, realistically, if the USA is to be ‘fair,’ it would ban all airlines with service to the United States from routing over Russia. Like, why should India, Turkey, Qatar, Emirates, or Etihad benefit, too.
Those countries are not actively helping Russia like China and North Korea are.
Actively? Fine, how’s ‘indirectly,’ or ‘incidentally,’ whatever synonyms you wish, but, let’s be clear Turkey, India, UAE, etc. absolutely are ‘enabling’ the conflict to continue by acting as a seemingly neutral third-country to purchase Russian oil, get them supplies, etc. They need to stop ‘playing both sides.’
And Philippine Airlines with their weekly JFK-MNL polar route.
Does Kirby do anything but whine and whinge?
US carriers are free to overfly Russia if they want to and indeed, it’s a wonder Criminal Trump is not encouraging it so they can pay fees to his mate Putin.
No, Russia has banned US carriers from its airspace (reciprocity).
Kirby is spot on
If the US tried to ban Indian carriers overflying Russia on the basis of “reciprocity”, India would respond with banning US carriers from overflying Pakistan also on the basis of “reciprocity”.
Net result, mutually assured destruction. Which is why they aren’t lobbying for that.
Sounds like a deal, Sean. I’d prefer not to fly over Pakistan either, though, it probably depends on your definition of Pakistan’s borders. Recall, there’s a bit of a dispute in the north…
This man should work in government. But no, he likes his paycheck too much.
And yet the typical Chicago “grifter” Kirby,green lighted service to ulaan bator,name which means red (as in communist) hero,and where Putin was welcomed as a hero recently.So too would Kirby call out Israel,with flights to Russia and zero sanctions against them,nor, supplying any aid to Ukraine,though claiming to be a western ally nation.Seems that claim is based in a one way direction of American aid to them,even during a freeze on foreign aid to nations struggling for medical aid and clean water.