United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is not holding back when it comes to his view of Spirit Airlines. Speaking at an industry conference, he made a bold prediction about the future of the ultra-low-cost carrier.
“That is a fundamentally broken business model, and the consumer has voted. They are going out of business because customers do not like their product,” Kirby said, according to airline journalist Brian Sumers at APEX.
When pressed about why he felt so sure, Kirby replied, “because I am good at math.” His comments reflect a growing belief among some industry experts that Spirit’s reliance on ultra-low fares may no longer be enough to survive in today’s travel market.
What scott kirby said about spirit airlines
This is not the first time Kirby has criticized Spirit’s business strategy. Earlier in the week, at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Aerospace Summit in Washington, D.C., he described the ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) approach as “an interesting experiment” that ultimately “failed,” according to Reuters.
Kirby added, “And it seems unlikely to me that Spirit can keep flying because their customers dislike the airline and do not want to fly.”
These comments are some of the harshest yet from a major airline leader toward one of its rivals.
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Spirit Airlines did not stay quiet. In a direct response on X (formerly Twitter), the company said:
“Scott is finally right about something – it is all about customers. Our Guests love low fares, especially our new Spirit First and Premium Economy options. Maybe that is why United executives cannot stop yapping about us.”
The airline has also defended its focus on affordable travel. In a separate statement, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications Duncan Dee said United executives are “obsessed” with Spirit. He emphasized that the company is “focused on competing and running a great operation.”
Spirit airlines faces tough financial challenges
Spirit’s fight with United comes at a difficult time. The airline filed for its second bankruptcy in under a year late last month. On top of that, Spirit has announced it will cut several routes across the U.S. this fall, including Albuquerque, Birmingham, Boise, Chattanooga, Columbia, Oakland, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, and San Jose.
The company also canceled plans to launch new service in Macon, Georgia. These moves suggest Spirit is trying to cut costs and focus on fewer markets as it works through its financial troubles.
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While Spirit is pulling back, United is expanding. Around the same time Spirit announced its route cuts, United revealed it would launch new flights to 15 cities starting January 6, 2026. These include popular destinations like Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Las Vegas.
Patrick Quayle, United’s Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances, said in a statement:
“If Spirit suddenly goes out of business, it will be incredibly disruptive, so we are adding these flights to give their customers other options if they want or need them.”
This shows United is not only predicting Spirit’s struggles but is also preparing to step in and capture Spirit’s passengers if the airline collapses.
What this means for travelers
For you as a passenger, this battle could mean big changes:
- If Spirit survives, you may continue to see ultra-low fares but with fewer destinations.
- If United is right and Spirit fails, travelers who rely on cheap flights might see fewer budget options and higher prices in the long run.
- In the meantime, you may notice United adding more routes in markets where Spirit is retreating.
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