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United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has claimed that American Airlines is losing about $800 million per year at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Kirby attributed these losses to American's decision to add around 100 new flights at the airport, while United did not respond with similar increases but still reported growth in airport margins and strong performance.
Kirby stated, "Because we have brand-loyal customers, we just execute our plan." He emphasized that United's strategy focuses on operational discipline and building brand loyalty across its services. According to Kirby, this approach has made United a "top performer" in the Chicago market.
However, industry observers have raised doubts about the accuracy of Kirby's $800 million figure. No supporting evidence or detailed methodology was provided by Kirby for his claim. Industry experts have also questioned the validity of such a large loss figure, with some estimating any potential losses closer to $100 million. Airline financial reporting practices make it difficult to verify profitability at an individual hub level because airlines like American generate revenue through various channels including connections and partnerships.
