United Airlines CEO Calls for National Wealth Tax

In a recent Oct. 18, 2026 interview, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, 59, argued that extreme wealth concentration threatens social stability and urged Washington to adopt a national wealth tax plus steep inheritance levies. He said state-level taxes would fail because wealthy individuals would relocate and suggested inheritance taxes “get close to 100 percent at some level,” adding he personally would pay them. Kirby did not set specific thresholds or a wealth-tax rate. His proposal would sharply diverge from current federal estate rules that exempt roughly $15 million per individual in 2026 and tax estates above that at a top rate of 40%, and it lands amid an active national debate over how to tax high-net-worth Americans.

Kirby paired his tax stance with a defense of airline pricing practices that charge extra for preferred seats and other add-ons. He framed ancillary fees as customer choice - letting budget-conscious travelers pay less while those wanting better seats or services pay more - and said airlines must raise certain prices to cover rising operating costs. He characterized the aviation sector and broader U.S. economy as fundamentally sound but expensive to run, arguing revenue from optional fees helps keep airlines financially viable as costs increase.