When Scott Kirby took the reins at United Airlines back in 2020, the world was basically falling apart. Planes were grounded, terminals were empty, and the industry was begging for a lifeline. Fast forward to 2024 and 2025, and the conversation has shifted from "will they survive" to "how much is too much?" Honestly, the numbers are eye-popping.
United Airlines CEO compensation hit a staggering $33.9 million for the 2024 fiscal year.
That is a lot of money. To put it in perspective, that’s about 380 times what the median United employee earns. If you're a flight attendant or a gate agent, that ratio feels less like a statistic and more like a gut punch. But the story of how Kirby reached the top of the airline pay scale is actually a mix of government regulations ending and some very aggressive corporate maneuvering.
The Massive Jump in United Airlines CEO Compensation
The first thing you have to understand is the "CARES Act cliff." During the pandemic, the US government gave airlines billions in aid, but it came with strings attached. One of those strings was a hard cap on executive pay. Basically, CEOs couldn't get the massive stock awards they were used to while they were living on taxpayer dimes.
That cap ended on April 1, 2023.
Once the training wheels came off, executive pay at United didn't just go up—it skyrocketed. In 2022, Kirby’s total package was around $9.8 million. By 2023, it nearly doubled to $18.6 million. Then came 2024, where it nearly doubled again to reach that $33.9 million mark.
Breaking Down the $33.9 Million
Most people see the headline number and think Kirby has a $33 million bank balance. That’s not quite how it works. His actual base salary is relatively "modest" for a CEO, sitting at $1,175,000. The real money is in the "United Next" strategy.
- Stock Awards: $24.4 million. This is the big one. These aren't just gifts; they are performance-based restricted stock units (RSUs) that only fully vest if the airline hits specific goals.
- Non-Equity Incentives: $5.1 million. Think of this as the "you did your job well" bonus based on operational metrics.
- Cash Bonus: $3 million.
- The Rest: About $203,000 in "other" compensation, which usually covers things like security and travel perks.
Why the Pay Gap is Sparking Outrage
It's not just the amount; it's the timing. While the United Airlines CEO compensation was hitting record highs, the frontline workers were—and are—fighting for new contracts. On Reddit and in crew rooms across the country, the sentiment is pretty fiery. Flight attendants have been vocal about the fact that they’ve been working under pre-COVID wage scales while the guy at the top is seeing 80% year-over-year raises.
Management argues that if you want a CEO who can manage a multi-billion dollar global entity, you have to pay market rates. They point to United's 2024 performance: a pre-tax profit of $4.2 billion and a massive $1.5 billion share repurchase program. In the world of Wall Street, that’s a "mission accomplished" banner.
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But for the person serving drinks at 35,000 feet, the "market rate" argument feels a bit hollow when their own cost of living is through the roof.
Comparing Kirby to the Rest of the "Big Four"
United isn't the only airline paying out big, but they are currently leading the pack. If you look at the 2024 landscape, Kirby is the highest-paid airline CEO in the world.
- Scott Kirby (United): $33.9 million
- Ed Bastian (Delta): $27.1 million
- Robert Isom (American): $15.6 million (which was actually a big drop from his $31M in 2023)
- Bob Jordan (Southwest): $10.6 million
Delta usually prides itself on being the premium leader, but United’s aggressive "United Next" plan—buying hundreds of new planes and retrofitting old ones—has tied a lot of Kirby’s wealth to the future success of these investments. The board basically used this pay package as a "retention grant" to make sure he doesn't jump ship before the fleet renewal is finished.
Is the Pay Justified?
This is where things get tricky. From a purely financial standpoint, United had a monster year in 2024. They hit the high end of their earnings guidance and managed to keep demand high for both "Basic Economy" and "Premium" seats. Kirby has been credited with shifting the airline's culture from "merely surviving" to "aggressively competing" with Delta for high-end travelers.
However, the "Net leverage" and debt levels are still something to watch. United still carries about $28.7 billion in total debt. Critics argue that pouring so much into executive pay and share buybacks while the balance sheet is still heavy is a risky move if the economy takes a dip.
What This Means for Travelers and Employees
High executive pay usually signals one of two things: either the company is printing money, or the board is desperate to keep the current leadership. In United's case, it's a bit of both.
For employees, this pay level is the ultimate bargaining chip. You can bet every union negotiation for the next three years will start with the number 33.9 million. For travelers, it’s a reminder that airlines are increasingly being run like high-end tech firms rather than public utilities. The focus is on "yield," "ancillary revenue," and "premium upsells"—all the things that drive the stock price up and, by extension, the CEO's net worth.
Key Takeaways for Following Airline Compensation:
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- Watch the Proxy Statements: These are filed every spring and are the only way to get the real, unvarnished numbers on what these guys make.
- Equity is King: Don't focus on the salary. Focus on the stock awards. That’s where the real wealth transfer happens.
- Operational Metrics Matter: Bonuses are often tied to things like on-time arrivals and "Net Promoter Scores." If your flight is late, it might actually be costing the CEO money (though usually not much).
If you want to track how this affects United's stock or see the full breakdown of their latest SEC filings, you should look at the United Airlines Investor Relations portal. They usually post the definitive proxy statements (Form DEF 14A) around April, which gives the most granular look at how these bonuses are calculated.
The reality is that United Airlines CEO compensation is no longer just a business story. It’s a cultural one. It’s about the gap between the C-suite and the tarmac, and as long as the airline stays profitable, that gap isn't likely to shrink anytime soon.