United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby launched a sharp critique of Rolls-Royce at the International Air Transport Association annual meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, June 7, 2026.
Kirby focused on weak service support and structural limitations due to Rolls-Royce's exclusive engine supplier status for the Airbus A350.
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Dispute Over 2017 Agreement
The criticism comes amid a commercial dispute over a 2017 agreement, where United Airlines made a $175 million advance payment to secure production slots and maintenance terms.
United Airlines alleges Rolls-Royce failed to meet contractual obligations and is pursuing repayment along with damages. Rolls-Royce rejects those claims.
Kirby highlighted uneven responsiveness across the engine manufacturing sector during a period of heavy reliance on long-term support agreements.
He contrasted Rolls-Royce with other manufacturers, praising General Electric for performance and acknowledging Pratt & Whitney for efforts to improve reliability.
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Addressing a wider industry bottleneck, Kirby estimated that approximately 800 to 900 commercial aircraft remain grounded worldwide due to persistent engine shortages.
According to FL360aero, Kirby remarked that Rolls-Royce displays a lack of concern regarding ongoing operational pressures.
"GE is the best, I think Pratt & Whitney is working hard, so I appreciate their attitude and what they’re doing, and my sentiment is that Rolls doesn’t care," said Kirby.
The legal friction and shifting fleet priorities have left United Airlines' long-haul strategy focused heavily on Boeing 787 Dreamliner deliveries.
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United Airlines has officially removed the 45 ordered Airbus A350-900 aircraft from its future delivery schedules in its financial reports.
