United eyes JFK slot purchases from carriers flying at a loss

United Airlines is looking at buying operating slots at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, part of a broader push to grow its network in the New York market. That's according to chief executive Scott Kirby.

In an interview, Kirby said the airline may target slots held by competitors that are currently running routes out of JFK at a financial loss. He described this as a practical way back into the airport, where slot availability is limited. Carriers there generally have to acquire capacity from existing holders rather than get new allocations outright.

United already operates from Newark Liberty International Airport, its primary New York hub. A foothold at JFK would give the carrier a second point of presence in the city. That could let it compete more directly with airlines such as Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, both of which have a larger footprint at JFK than United does.

Kirby did not name specific carriers or routes United might target, nor did he give a timeline for any transaction. Slot deals at capacity-constrained airports like JFK tend to be complex and subject to regulatory scrutiny, and they can take a long time to finalize.

No formal agreement has been announced. The comments appear to reflect strategic intent rather than a transaction actually in progress. Details on which routes or slot pairs might be involved, and how much United would be willing to pay, were not disclosed.