American Airlines said Friday that it isn't interested in a merger with United Airlines.
Bloomberg on April 13 had reported that United CEO Scott Kirby approached President Trump about a potential merger with American Airlines, citing anonymous people familiar with the matter. The conversation is reported to have happened on Feb. 25.
In a statement, American said, "American Airlines is not engaged with or interested in any discussions regarding a merger with United Airlines. While changes in the broader airline marketplace may be necessary, a combination with United would be negative for competition and for consumers, and therefore inconsistent with our understanding of the administration's philosophy toward the industry and principles of antitrust law. Our focus will remain on executing on our strategic objectives and positioning American to win for the long term.
"We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the administration as it takes steps to strengthen the broader airline industry."