United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is sounding the alarm on wealth inequality in America.
In an interview with The New York Times published on Sunday, October 18, Kirby, 59, called for a national wealth tax, as well as inheritance taxes.
“We should have a national wealth tax — it won’t work by state because people will just move,” Kirby told the outlet when asked about declining public trust in corporate executives. “And I think we should have inheritance taxes that get close to 100 percent at some level. I would pay them.”
Inheritance taxes at that level would allow the government to tax nearly 100 percent of the wealth left behind by extremely wealthy individuals when they die.
While Kirby did not specify what wealth threshold would trigger the proposed inheritance tax or what rate he would support for a national wealth tax, the CEO said it’s a matter that needs to be addressed.
“Wealth inequality has become a danger to our society,” he maintained.
Kirby’s proposal would mark a sharp departure from the current federal estate tax system. According to the IRS, estates exceeding the $15 million exemption per individual in 2026 are subject to a top tax rate of 40%.
While his comments come amid a nationwide debate over higher taxes for wealthy Americans, they also come amid a growing conversation around airline pricing, with the United boss defending charging passengers more for certain seating options.
Though the practice has become more common in recent years, airlines around the globe have begun charging for other services, including food and drink options — something Kirby said allows airlines to customize customers’ flight experiences to their specific preferences.
“Some people just want to get from A to B at the cheapest price possible. There are some customers who want to sit in a window seat or a better seat, and that costs money to deliver,” Kirby explained, according to the Times. “The way to give everyone what they want is to charge for the services and products that those customers want.”
While Kirby remains optimistic about the future of the U.S. economy and the aviation industry, he made clear that as costs rise across the board, flying is getting more expensive, too, and the airline must keep pace with those rising costs.
“We have to charge enough that it covers the cost of flying, and it’s expensive to fly airplanes,” he added.