United Airlines chief executive Scott Kirby warned that a recent levelling-off of business travel could portend a recession even as wider demand picks up after the pandemic.
Speaking on US TV news channel CNBC, Kirby said " it feels like business travel, and this probably is indicative of pre-recessionary kind of behaviour, has plateaued even though our total revenues are still going up".
Kirby said there could be "mild recession induced by the Fed", which has been hiking interest rates in response to surging inflation since mid-2021.
Airlines have faced surging costs in areas such as fuel and labour, with shortages emerging among crew and ground staff across multiple countries.,
Kirby said that pilots at rival Delta Airlines "deserve" the 34% pay rise awarded in recent days. Other airlines are facing similar demands, with United pilots set to stage a picket outside the venue for the carrier's board meeting on December 7.