United Airlines vs Warner Bros. Discovery: Founders, CEOs and History
United Airlines was founded in 1926 by Walter T. Varney, William Boeing and is led by Scott Kirby. Warner Bros. Discovery was founded in 2022 by Harry Warner, John Hendricks and is led by David Zaslav.
Company facts
United Airlines
- Founded
- 1926
- Headquarters
- Chicago, Illinois
- Current CEO
- Scott Kirby
- Employees
- 113,200
Warner Bros. Discovery
- Founded
- 2022
- Headquarters
- New York, New York
- Current CEO
- David Zaslav
- Employees
- 35,500
Founders
United Airlines
Walter T. Varney
Walter T. Varney founded Varney Air Lines, which won Contract Air Mail Route 5 and flew its first route between Pasco, Washington, and Elko, Nevada, via Boise, on April 6, 1926.
William Boeing
William Boeing formed Boeing Air Transport in 1927 to fly the Chicago-San Francisco air mail route and then, with Frederick Rentschler, created United Aircraft and Transport Corporation in 1929.
Warner Bros. Discovery
Harry Warner
Harry Warner was the eldest of the four Warner brothers who incorporated Warner Bros. Pictures in 1923 and served as its president. The studio released The Jazz Singer in 1927, one of the first feature films with synchronized dialogue. Warner Bros.
John Hendricks
John Hendricks launched the Discovery Channel in 1985 and built Discovery Communications, the predecessor of Discovery, Inc., which merged with WarnerMedia in 2022 to form Warner Bros. Discovery. He founded the Discovery business, not WBD itself.
CEOs and their tenures
United Airlines
- Oscar Munoz2015–2020
Former CEO
Munoz handed over to Scott Kirby in May 2020 and served as executive chairman for a transition period.
Source - J. Scott Kirby2020–present
Chief Executive Officer
Under Kirby, United's revenue rose from $15.4 billion in 2020 to a record $59.1 billion in 2025, with premium cabins and MileagePlus as the main growth drivers.
Source
Warner Bros. Discovery
- David Zaslav2022–present
President and CEO
Led the 2022 merger, the post-merger cost cuts and debt paydown, the 2025 separation plan, and the sale process that produced the Paramount Skydance agreement.
Source - Gunnar Wiedenfels2022–present
Chief Financial Officer
As CFO, he acts as CEO David Zaslav's primary hatchet man, enforcing brutal, multi-billion dollar cost-cutting measures to pay down the massive $40 billion debt load from the WarnerMedia merger.
Source
Timeline: United Airlines and Warner Bros. Discovery side by side
1923Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Pictures Founded
Harry, Albert, Sam and Jack Warner incorporate Warner Bros. Pictures.
1926United Airlines
Varney Air Lines begins
United traces its roots to Varney Air Lines and early air mail service.
1931United Airlines
United Air Lines organized
United Air Lines was formed to manage airline subsidiaries tied to United Aircraft and Transport.
1985Warner Bros. Discovery
Discovery Channel Launches
John Hendricks launches the Discovery Channel, the start of the Discovery business.
1997United Airlines
Star Alliance founded
United became one of the founding members of Star Alliance.
2010United Airlines
Continental merger closes
UAL Corporation completed the Continental merger, later operating under the United brand.
2015United Airlines
Oscar Munoz becomes CEO
Oscar Munoz became chief executive of United in September 2015.
2018Warner Bros. Discovery
Acquired Scripps Networks Interactive
Warner Bros. Discovery acquired Scripps Networks Interactive for $14.6 billion.
2020United Airlines
Scott Kirby becomes CEO
Scott Kirby succeeded Oscar Munoz as CEO in May 2020.
2022Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery Formed
AT&T spins off WarnerMedia and combines it with Discovery, Inc.; the new company lists on Nasdaq as WBD.
2025United Airlines
Revenue reaches record level
United reported record 2025 total operating revenue of $59.1 billion.
2025Warner Bros. Discovery
Netflix Wins Sale Process
After putting itself up for sale in October 2025, WBD agrees in December to sell its studios and streaming business to Netflix.
2026United Airlines
Q2 2026 revenue up 16%
United reported Q2 2026 revenue of $17.7 billion and raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $9-$11 despite nearly $6 billion in added fuel costs.
2026Warner Bros. Discovery
Paramount Skydance Merger Agreement
On February 27, 2026, WBD signs a merger agreement with Paramount Skydance at $31 per share in cash; the Netflix agreement is terminated.
2026Warner Bros. Discovery
Stockholders Approve Merger
WBD stockholders approve the Paramount Skydance transaction on April 23, 2026.
2026Warner Bros. Discovery
Closing Date Set
After a court approves a settlement with state attorneys general, the companies announce an anticipated closing date of October 6, 2026.
Acquisitions
Warner Bros. Discovery
- WarnerMedia2022$43B
- Scripps Networks Interactive2018$14.6B
Questions about United Airlines vs Warner Bros. Discovery
Who is the CEO of United Airlines Holdings, Inc. and Warner Bros. Discovery?
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is led by Scott Kirby and Warner Bros. Discovery is led by David Zaslav. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was United Airlines Holdings, Inc. founded vs Warner Bros. Discovery?
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1926 — 96 years before Warner Bros. Discovery, which was founded in 2022. United Airlines Holdings, Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Warner Bros. Discovery.
How many employees does United Airlines Holdings, Inc. have compared to Warner Bros. Discovery?
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. employs approximately 113,200 people, while Warner Bros. Discovery employs approximately 35,500. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. has the larger workforce at 113,200 employees, compared to Warner Bros. Discovery's 35,500. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are United Airlines Holdings, Inc. and Warner Bros. Discovery headquartered?
Both United Airlines Holdings, Inc. and Warner Bros. Discovery are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded United Airlines Holdings, Inc. and Warner Bros. Discovery?
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. was founded by Walter T. Varney, William Boeing. Warner Bros. Discovery was founded by Harry Warner, John Hendricks.
Which company has a longer operating history — United Airlines Holdings, Inc. or Warner Bros. Discovery?
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. has been operating for approximately 100 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Warner Bros. Discovery has been in operation for around 4 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the United Airlines vs Warner Bros. Discovery overview