United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby sent a note to employees on July 4th. Live and Let’s Fly shared it. Consistent guy? Yes. Humble? Definitely not. He treats the country’s 250th anniversary like a stage for a very loud monologue.
The Message
Here is what Kirby said, standing in front of a plane on his “favorite holiday”:
“I truly love this country and everything it stands for… At United Airlines, we’re a huge part of what it means to America… we aren’t just flying people, it’s really spreading the culture and values.”
He claims United is “making history.” He says they are the “best airline in the history of aviation.”
Short answer. Absurd.
Who decided this? Did they vote on it in a boardroom while looking at spreadsheets? Is it about profits? Route breadth? Newark traffic? Or is it just marketing bravado? The claim lacks metrics. It lacks humility. It’s just a statement of fact delivered with the confidence of a man who has never had a delayed flight.
Kirby is trying hard. I’ll give him that. He wants employees to feel part of something grand. Unlike leadership at American Airlines, who seem lost, Kirby has a mission. Even if that mission is based on delusion.
The Patriotism Problem
The airline claims are one thing. The comments on America? Cringe.
He argues our freedom is unprecedented. He thinks United is spreading our superior values globally. It sounds less like patriotism and more like echo chamber blindness.
Travel teaches you things. One of them is that no single nation owns the concept of freedom. Or goodness. Or greatness. The United States? Great in parts. Flawed in others. But “greatest”? On earth? Really?
Look at the Human Freedom Index. Where do we land? 15th. Behind Switzerland. Denmark. New Zealand. Can Kirby say those countries are less free than us? No. Can he authoritively rank them lower? Probably not. But arrogance rarely asks for citations.
We have gun violence issues. Bodily autonomy debates. Even rare deportations to the wrong countries. These aren’t bugs in the American system. They’re features. Yet Kirby pretends none of it matters because today is the 4th of July and planes are loud.
It feels like a view from a plane cabin that never landed. Or maybe a view from inside the airport. The world outside looks different than the brochures suggest. We’re more similar to other nations than Kirby implies. Less exceptional. More average.
That’s okay. Average is human. “Best in history” is a PR strategy. It’s bold, sure. But mostly, it’s just tired. We hear these claims every time a CEO wants a morale boost. You can cheer for your team. You just can’t expect the world to agree.
Do you believe United is the best airline? Do you think the US is the peak of human society? Maybe. But don’t quote Scott Kirby as evidence. Just enjoy the flight. And the holiday. Let’s keep the ego check somewhere below cruising altitude. 🛫
