United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is facing significant criticism following his public support for a national wealth tax and inheritance taxes approaching 100%, with a senior Justice Department official joining the backlash [1]. Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, took a swipe at United's service on social media, posting "The WiFi didn't work on my last two flights" in response to Kirby's tax proposals [1]. Kirby's remarks came during a recent interview with The New York Times, in which he stated "We should have a national wealth tax — it won't work by state because people will just move" and "I think we should have inheritance taxes that get close to 100 percent at some level. I would pay them" [1].
The controversy has drawn attention to significant pay disparity at United Airlines. Kirby received approximately $32.3 million in total compensation in fiscal year 2025, including salary, stock awards, and performance incentives—roughly 334 times the $96,670 median employee compensation reported by the airline, according to United's 2026 proxy statement [1]. Beyond tax proposals, Kirby also defended United's pricing practices, stating "There are some customers who want to sit in a window seat or a better seat, and that costs money to deliver" [1]. This defense of premium seating charges has prompted criticism from social media users and commentators, with some threatening to stop flying United and others urging Kirby to focus on ticket prices and customer service instead [1]. One user criticized the airline's pricing, writing "How about we start with not charging $500 for basic 2 hour domestic routes?" [1]. Dagen McDowell also criticized Kirby over his wealth tax proposal, pointing to what she characterized as hypocrisy given United's own elite status pricing practices [1].
CONCLUSION
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby's advocacy for wealth and inheritance taxes has backfired, drawing criticism from government officials and the public who view his positions as hypocritical given his $32.3 million compensation package and the airline's premium pricing practices [1]. The controversy highlights growing tensions between executive compensation, corporate pricing strategies, and public policy positions, potentially impacting United's brand reputation and customer loyalty.