U.S. airlines have been struggling with an oversupply of flights and weaker-than-expected demand this year. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines reported profits and said demand has stabilized, but more domestic-focused airlines are expected to struggle. Delta and United have benefited from an emphasis on premium travel and international trip demand. A Delta Air Lines plane takes off at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on Dec. 24, 2021. Eric Lee | Bloomberg | Getty Images
For United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, there’s his airline, his carrier’s main rival, Delta Air Lines, and then everyone else.
Delta and United accounted for more than 86% of the profits posted by the seven largest airlines last year. Airline margins are notoriously thin, less than 4% last year, compared with close to 20% for big U.S. companies, according to the