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 Istanbul on Monday, Kirby envisioned a mechanical diversion to Russia, forcing a carrier to divert.
“I worry when airlines are flying over Russia and they have American citizens onboard. When planes fly over Russia, you use Russian airports as a place to divert airplanes. If there’s a mechanical issue or a medical issue, you land in Russia. What’s going to happen if an airline lands in Russia with some prominent U.S. citizens on board? That is a crisis in the making, and I think we should solve it before the crisis happens.”
Just one day later, Air India 173, traveling from Delhi (DEL) to San Francisco (SFO), did exactly that. Facing a mechanical problem, the 777-200 diverted to Magadan, Russia. There, passengers waited for more than 36 hours for a rescue aircraft to pick them up and take them onward to San Francisco. In the meantime, passengers were left sleeping on thin mats on school classroom floors. In this case, there has been no report of any dignitaries or prominent US citizens onboard the aircraft (more on that below).
While Kirby framed the issue in terms of passenger safety, less altruistic commercial concerns certainly are also at play.
For example, United has been unable to restore most of its India routes because avoiding Russian airspace makes many flights between the United States and India not economically viable.
While Kirby did not say it, the subtext here is that the use of Russian airspace by Indian, Chinese, and Gulf carriers continues to give non-US carriers a tremendous economic advantage when it comes to these longhaul routes. Certainly, Kirby is interested in leveling the playfield when it comes to these routes, even if that practically means that carriers like Air India or Air China also would be unable to sustain certain direct services to the USA.
Finally, it should be said that key US personnel (i.e. those with specific security clearances) are already barred from flying on foreign airlines that traverse Russian airspace. We deal with such people at Award Expert and I am very aware of these sorts of restrictions from my own time in government work. In that sense, Kirby’s fear is much less likely to materialize.
On the other hand, “normal” Americans should still exercise caution when flying carriers that utilize Russian airspace since even an average citizen on a diverted flight could be used as fodder in the proxy war between the US and Russia in Ukraine.
CONCLUSION
United CEO Scott Kirby wants foreign carriers also to be barred from utilizing Russian airspace on their US routes. The mechanics of this are complicated since existing routes are established based on treaties that may not be easily modifiable. We have seen, however, that Chinese carriers are avoiding Russian airspace on newly-approved routes to the USA, so it seems to be a concern limited to existing flights.
While Kirby’s concerns are likely more commercial than altruistic, his prophetic hypothetical is not wholly far-fetched: indeed, we saw it happen one day after his warning.
image: @scottkirby / Instagram
All it would take is an American having something Russia finds objectionable in their possession to be made an example of. Like a Ukraine flag on their bag or something. Yea I’m sure he has a business reason for this, but it doesn’t make him wrong
They already arrested an American basketball player and a journalist. Russia does not require security clearance to arrest you. As the war worsens any American becomes a target when in Russia to use for their benefit.
Kirby is right. These flights need to be banned. And India needs to start being held accountable for its neutral stance. And yes, this includes also Turkish, EK, EY, and QR. No more flights over Russia to the U.S. Period.
Ah the genocide supporting imperialist Stuart is here.
Blah blah blah Kirby always has something to say about everything. It’s getting old. If they have to go around Russia the fares will increase, or stop altogether and you guys with still be biatchin about that!
Or perhaps it would allow the U.S. carriers to actually ramp back up flights there on equal footing. More flights means lower fares, despite the increased distance.
As well, if driving up fares is your issue, be more concerned with India’s protectionist stance on not allowing the UA/EK alliance to operate in India. This is far more a factor in assuring high fares there.
The U.S. has near zero leverage on India, China and the Gulf countries.
Even Mexico didn’t agree to U.S. sanctions against Russia, or Israel our great ally in the ME.
Good luck..
I love that Kirby has blossomed from a notoriously tightfisted, squeeze-a-silver-dollar-until-the-eagle-screams type whose only concern under any circumstances is what he can get for himself and his corporation into a selfless safety-minded altruist. There are advantages and disadvantages of being based in any given country. United got gargantuan amounts of free money during Covid because they were a big U.S. airline. Now there’s a much smaller disadvantage from being U.S. based so maybe Kirby should just say nothing rather than showing himself up as an odious hypocrite. Or would he rather share out lots of the Covid money to competitors to even things out if he truly feels that a level playing field is suddenly so critical?
People have a right to fly who they choose and reap the consequences of their decision. Let the free market economy dictate the viability and profitability of airlines. Kirby doesn’t give a s$&t about passengers just United’s bottom line. Total hypocrite who loves to hear himself talk.
I’m sure that Kirby is just as sincere in his statement as the PGA was in saying that no patriotic American golfer would join the LIV tour.
Isn’t he the same garbage CEO who fired all his unvaccinated employees?
They were suspended if unwilling to move to a role that didn’t threaten their health or the health of their customers. . Those employees have since been allowed to return to work.
Wrong. Kirby fired those that refused to get the covid Vax who did not receive a medical or religious exemption.
Not sure why people in the comments here are ripping Kirby. He has a very valid point, both from a safety perspective and a fair playing field perspective. Every airline flying to the US should not be allowed to fly over Russia.
Because they think Kirby is woke… that’s all it is
By woke I’m guessing in this context you mean socially aware. What does Kirby’s supposed interest in the safety of someone flying on a completely different airline have to do with that?
Kirby only cares about safety and a level playing field when they benefit him or his company. If the situation was reversed he’d be cackling with glee. The hypocrisy is galling so it’s tough to avoid commenting.
Agree!!
They ALL made it to S.F. No one was kidnapped or taken hostage. Settle down.
What a noble comment by Kirby, he is really a very kind gentleman with his concern for these foreign airlines and their passengers. It’s definitely not him trying to look out for the interests of US Airlines to ensure that foreign airlines have an advantage over them.
Stupid.
Why should we all bend over backwards and sacrifice anything just because some third world worthless shithole country (Ukraine) is being invaded?
Also Kirby is short. Nothing more pathetic than a “man” that’s under six feet.
Imperialists believe in protectionism for me but not for thee. Typical
What a bunch of stupid, senseless comments. Anyone that doesn’t see the genuine concern of flying Americans over a country that the US is in a proxy war with is a complete buffoon. Do we need to be reminded of MH that got shot down? It doesn’t matter if passengers are prominent or not. An airplane full of 300-400 Americans hostages gives our enemy great bargaining power.