United Airlines CEO Hints At Merger With American Airlines

CH-Aviation reports that United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has posed the idea of a merger between his airline and American Airlines. No one is commenting on how far these talks have gone so far, but Kirby also approached some federal officials the possible merger.

If such a merger would take place, it would form the largest airline in the US, and possibly in the world, with a combined fleet of over 2,100 airliners.

Such a move as this will have to go through the federal government regulatory and antitrust process. It would be protested by Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Air Group, and the other smaller carriers.

ANALYSIS

If this merger were to happen, the effect on the Hawai‘i market would be impacted on two destinations, LAX and ORD, where service would have to be consolidated.

18 April 2026 UPDATE

American Airlines released a statement today, that said they are not interested nor pursuing a merger with United Airlines.

American Airlines And Philippine Airlines Propose Codeshare

American Airlines and Philippine Airlines filed a joint application for a codeshare agreement with the US Department of Transportation. PAL applied for a codeshare out of LAX on AAL's flights to HNL, LAS, SFO, and SEA.

Further information in this Aviation Week article.

The Hawai‘i Bowl Team Charters

The two teams participating in the 2024 edition of The Hawai‘i Bowl are the University of South Florida Bulls from the American Athletic Conference (Tampa, FL) and the San José State Spartans from the Mountain West Conference (San José, CA). Both teams will be arriving by their respective team charter flights.

The game is scheduled to be played at the Clarence TC Ching Field on the campus of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, on 24 December, at 15:00HAST. Both teams will return to their respective cities following the game.

Bulls Charter Flight from TPA to HNL (18 Dec 2024):

American Airlines 777-223ER N759AN (c/n 32836, l/n 376, f/n 7BU) as AAL9735 [Team].

Omni Air International 767-36NER N468AN (c/n 30115, l/n 863) as OAE2851 [Band & Cheer].

 It ferried to ITO for the duration of bowl week.

Spartans Charter Flight from SJC (19 Dec 2024):

Omni Air International 777-2U8ER N819AX (c/n 33681, l/n 479) as OAE2859.

24 December 2024 UPDATE

The Bulls are returning to TPA on American Airlines' 777-223ER, N759AN, as AAL9841, following their five overtime 41-39 win. Omni's N468AX will take back the USF band and cheerleaders back to TPA as OAE2868.

The Spartans are returning to SJC on Omni Air International's 777-2U8ER, N828AX (c/n 33682, l/n 514) as OAE2864.

American Airlines' A321N Departure Anomaly

An American Airlines A321-251N, N418AN (msn 9550, f/n 418), failed to make the immediate right turn upon departure from Runway 8L last night. Operating as AAL298 to LAX, the A321N maintained runway heading until over Mānoa, then they made the right turn out toward Oʻahu's south shoreline, cutting across East Honolulu. The closest the A321N got to the Koʻolau Mountains was near Mānoa, but was well above the peaks. The flight continued onto LAX, and landed safely less than five hours later.

Normally, all departures from Runway 8L require a right turn of at least a heading of 140º, as soon as practical to avoid overflying metro Honolulu. For late night flights, narrow-body red-eyes to the west coast are allowed to depart from Runway 8L, since the traffic is light.

American Airlines To Add CLT-HNL

American Airlines is going to restart the old short-lived US Airways service between CLT and HNL from May to September 2021. The seasonal six-times-per-week service will be flown with 777-200ERs.

In December 2009, US Airways launched daily service between CLT and HNL. The service lasted for about two years.

American Airlines' N736AT

American Airlines' 777-323ER, N736AT (c/n 33538, l/n 1377, f/n 7LW), made a diversion to HNL as it flew from LAX to HKG as AAL193.

American Airlines Starts A321N Service To Hawai‘i

American Airlines has begun A321-253N service out of PHX to HNL, OGG, and KOA, as the airline continues to phase out their 757-223 fleet. Today, all three Hawaiian destinations will have A321neo service: HNL will have N406AN (msn 8834, f/n 406) as AAL692; OGG will have N403AN (msn 8780, f/n 403) as AAL 432; and KOA will have N401AN (msn 8701, f/n 401) as AAL 663.

American will alternate the 757 into the rotation, until the airline receives more A321neos, which they have five to receive in the near future.

N400AN (msn 8647, f/n 400) is seen above when it did ETOPS proving flights earlier this year.

American Airlines Flies Final MD-80 Revenue Flight

American Airlines' N984TW (c/n 53634, l/n 2287), an MD-83, made the last MD-80 revenue flight for the airline,  as AAL80 (DFW-ORD). American is retiring the last of the MD-80s in its fleet.

I've only captured two American Airlines MD-83s during trips to the mainland. Pictured on the top is N976TW (c/n 53626, l/n 2279), taken in November 2010 at LAX; and N9413T (c/n 53188, l/n 2119), taken in March 2013 at EWR.

American Airlines' N400AN

American Airlines' A321-253NX, N400AN (msn 8647), is making an A321neo ETOPS proving flight from LAX as AAL9708 this afternoon, and will return to LAX tomorrow with the same flight number. The American A321neos are slated to replace the 757-200 flights from PHX to the Hawaiian Islands.

American Airlines Winter Season ORD-HNL Service

American Airlines announced today that the winter season service between ORD and HNL will return on 19 December 2018, though this year, it will be with their 787-8s.

In the past, American used their DC-10-30s (1990s), and their 767-300ERs (2000s, and 2010s).

Further information in this American Airlines press release.

N941UW

N941UW (c/n 27806, l/n 657), a 757-2B7 owned by Wells Fargo Bank Northwest, is ferrying from GYR to XSP for freighter conversion, and has made a fuel stop at HNL, before continuing onto GUM.

27806 was originally delivered to USAir in January 1995 as N628AU. It received the dark blue livery following the name change to US Airways. In December 2006, it had Blended Winglets installed, and re-registered as N941UW (f/n 941). Following the US Airways / American Airlines merger, it was transferred to the latterʻs fleet in December 2013, when it was painted in the American livery. It was withdrawn from service last month. 27806 will undergo freighter conversion at XSP, and will be leased to SF Airlines (China).

American Upguages PHX-HNL To A330-300

As mentioned last month, American Airlines has upguaged it's AAL692/693 flight between PHX and HNL to their A330-323s today. This will increase the seat count from 176 (C12Y164) in the former US Airways 757-200s, to 291 (C28Y263) in the A330-323.

American Airlines PHX Changes

American Airlines will be making the following changes to their service between Phoenix, AZ and Honolulu:

27 November: AAL694/675 daily 757-200 service ends.

15 December: AAL692/693 to upgrade to daily A330-300 service from 757-200s. The flight originates in Charlotte, NC.

15 December:  AAL690/689 to operate 757-200 daily service until 07 January 2018.

AAL192's Double Diversion

Today's American Airlines flight, AAL192 from HKG to LAX, made two flight diversions that took it to PVG and HNL. The aircraft used was N735AT (c/n 32439, l/n 1371, f/n 7LV), a 777-323ER. The PVG diversion was due to an ill passenger, and the HNL diversion was due the duty time reaching its maximum, and going to LAX would exceed that. After arriving at HNL, the passengers and crew were put up in hotel. The HNL-LAX segment is scheduled for tomorrow morning as AAL9240.

Further details in this blog post.

American Airlines' N942UW Damaged

KHON News reports that American Airlines' N942UW (c/n 27807, l/n 662) suffered a gash on the starboard side of its nose, as a truck hit the 757-2B7, as it was being prepped to fly to PHX as AAL675. The flight was canceled.

HANG F-22As Scramble To Escort AAL31

A pair of F-22A Raptors from the Hawaii‘i Air National Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron were scrambled to escort an American Airlines A321 arriving from LAX. N126AN (msn 6313), flying as AAL31, was subject to an attempted cockpit breach by a passenger, who was prevented then restrained by passengers and crew. An in-flight emergency was reported by the flight crew, and the FAA requested the HANG escort. The flight landed on Runway 4R without incident, while first responders readied to enter the airliner, which parked on the North Ramp. Crews from the HNL ARFF, Hawaii State Sheriff deputies, Honolulu Police, the FBI, and Homeland Security are investigating the incident.

American Airlines' N730AN

American Airlines' 777-323ER, N730AN (c/n 31554, l/n 1217, f/n 7LP), made a medical diversion to HNL today. It's flight is listed as AAL72 (SYD-LAX). The aircraft, crews, and passengers will overnight at HNL.

Happy 90th Birthday American Airlines!

Hau‘oli Lā Hānau! Today, American Airlines celebrates its 90th year of operations! The airline got its beginnings as Robertson Aircraft Corporation, and has evolved into the world's largest airline.

American's initial entry into the Hawai‘i market began with Trans World Airlines (TWA) in the 1960s, and American entered the Hawai‘i market in 1970. American also merged with US Airways in February 2013.

Currently, American serves HNL, OGG, KOA, and LIH from the US mainland.

Further information in this American Airlines press release.

American's N773AN

Our December edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" takes us back to September 2004, with this American Airlines 777-223ER, N773AN (c/n 29583, l/n 199), seen above on Hard Stand 1A. It was flown in as a fleet substitute for one of the 767-323ER flights, as American Airlines "Triple Sevens" are quite rare to Hawai‘i routes.

N773AN continues to fly with American Airlines, and has been painted in the "New American" livery.

American Airlines Airbus A321 Service To OGG

American recently introduced the A321 between OGG and LAX, replacing the 752's.

Particularly interesting was their choice of registration for the aircraft seen today departing for LAX as AAL254. N125AA was previously worn by an American Airlines DC-10-10 and the registration was retained when the aircraft operated for Hawaiian Airlines.