United Airlines Says Hybrid Work Will Drive Future Demand
Photo Credit: Pictured, a flight attendant in United's Polaris business class section of an aircraft. United is seeing strong demand for its Polaris business class seats from leisure travelers, although they don't generally pay as much for the lie-flat seats. United Airlines
Skift Take
United's Scott Kirby and Airbnb's Brian Chesky make for strange bedfellows. Both believe hybrid work models will lead to permanent changes in how their respective companies operate.
Do you remember when the airline industry embraced existential concerns early in the pandemic about a drop-off in business travel, and questioned how leisure travel could possibly fill the gap?
During their third quarter earnings call Wednesday, United Airlines officials expressed optimism that business travel would almost certainly pick up in the future from current levels, but touted the "permanent" advantageous changes, including new efficiencies, that current hybrid work environments have created for the airline.
"There's been a permanent structural change in leisure demand because of the flexibility that hybrid work allows," CEO Scott Kirby said.
Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella told
