President Trump said on Tuesday that he was opposed to a merger of United Airlines and American Airlines, but that he welcomed other airline deals and was open to the government helping at least one struggling carrier.
Mr. Trump said that he did not “mind mergers” and would welcome a deal that might rescue Spirit Airlines from bankruptcy. He also suggested that the federal government could provide assistance to keep Spirit in business.
“Spirit’s in trouble and I’d love somebody to buy Spirit,” he said in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday. “It’s 14,000 jobs and maybe the federal government should help that one out.”
Spirit is in its second bankruptcy in two years. It has been hurt by fierce competition, rising costs, a failed attempt to sell itself to JetBlue Airways and problems with some of its jet engines. The rise in the cost of jet fuel stemming from the war in Iran has recently added to Spirit’s difficulties.
It is not clear how the Trump administration might help Spirit, and Mr. Trump offered no details about what options he was considering. The U.S. government has offered financial assistance to airlines in the past, including after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and during the Covid pandemic, but that aid was authorized by legislation.
Mr. Trump’s opposition to a United-American deal comes after reports last week that United’s chief executive, Scott Kirby, had floated the idea with the president in February. Such a deal would create a global behemoth. American has more flights than any other airline, followed by Delta Air Lines, then United.
“I know them both very well, I don’t like it,” he said of United and American.
American has also dismissed the idea, saying in a statement on Friday that it was “not engaged with or interested” in negotiating a deal with United.
United declined to comment.
Niraj Chokshi is a Times reporter who writes about aviation, rail and other transportation industries.
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