United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby believes only his carrier and Delta Air Lines are properly positioned in the US market, predicting competitors will soon need to abandon unprofitable routes.

"Economic gravity is ultimately going to win," the United Airlines CEO said in predicting more low-cost airlines will pull back from costly routes like the Bay Area.

United Airlines (UAL) lowered its profit outlook with CEO Scott Kirby saying the world is less uncertain now than it was in the first half of the year. Yahoo Finance Senior Transportation Reporter Pras Subramanian outlines the takeaways from the earnings print,

CNBC’s Phil LeBeau and United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby join 'Squawk Box' to discuss the company's quarterly earnings results, state of air travel demand, Q3 forecast, travel around Newark Liberty International Airport,

Q2 2025 Management View CEO J. Scott Kirby stated the quarter was further evidence that the "United -- next strategy continues to work and that the 2 brand loyal revenue diverse airlines continue to generate the bulk of industry profit.

Find insight on United Airlines, London-listed airlines and more in the latest Market Talks covering Auto & Transport.

United Airlines shares rose 4% as the U.S. carrier projected improved demand since the start of July, an upbeat tone after the industry came under pressure from the fallout of President Donald Trump's budget cuts and trade tensions.

United Airlines is permanently axing U.S. domestic bus routes between airports in the coming weeks. The airline will be ending two routes later this summer and in the fall—its Denver to Fort Collins, Colorado, (DEN-FNL) and Newark, New Jersey, to Allentown, Pennsylvania, (EWR-ABE) Landline services.

Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines. (Bloomberh Contributor—Getty Images) In 2019, 4.5 billion passengers took an international flight, according to the CDC .