United CEO Sends a Clear Message to Delta Air Lines

Over the past several years, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have established themselves as the two top carriers in the United States and have each become the other's top competitor. Amid that race to become America's top airline, United CEO Scott Kirby had a bit of a message to Delta this week.

During a recent interview, Kirby expressed respect for Delta, but he made it clear that he wants to position United to be better than Delta in every conceivable way, especially as Delta looks to compete with United in the Pacific, where United currently outperforms Delta.

Delta Takes Aim at United

This week, Delta Air Lines President Peter Carter announced plans to increase his airline's presence in the Pacific, where Delta has been lagging compared to United. Carter said that Delta wants to become "the leading U.S. carrier" in the region, and the top carrier in the world.

"We want to become stronger, better, faster in the trans-Pacific, and we want to become the leading U.S. carrier" across the Pacific, Carter told CNBC during a recent interview. "Ultimately … the real goal is to become the leading global carrier, which is a pretty audacious goal."

Obviously, to make that happen, Delta has to go through United. And Carter did not shy away from that.

"We always have to be hungry to win, and I say that because I know United is out there competing against us and replicating the playbook a little bit," he said. "Bring 'em on."

United CEO Targets Delta

Obviously, a clear and obvious rivalry has formed between Delta and United, and United CEO Scott Kirby was not shy about addressing that rivalry head-on, either.

During an interview with CNBC during that same conference, Kirby said that he has "a lot of respect for Delta, and what they have done, and I take it as a huge compliment that Delta is beginning to acknowledge that they have an equal that they're worried about and trying to compete with us."

When asked what areas he wants to beat Delta, Kirby had a pretty blunt response.

"Everything," he told CNBC.

Clearly, this competition between the two carriers will not be slowing down anytime soon.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 6:41 AM.