Posted on 06/30/2023 4:53:10 PM PDT by NautiNurse
United CEO Scott Kirby is apologizing to customers and his own employees after taking a private jet during a week when his airline was canceling thousands of flights.
The airline confirmed Kirby flew from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey to Denver, Colorado, on Wednesday, and that the company did not pay for his flight. Teterboro is about 17 miles from Newark, New Jersey, where one of United’s largest hubs is located and which was the center of the airline’s meltdown this week.
[Snip]
But Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who oversees the FAA, pushed back on that criticism of his agency Wednesday evening on CNN Primetime.
“Look, United Airlines has some internal issues they need to work through. They’ve really been struggling this week, even relative to other US airlines,” he told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.
In a statement, Kirby said he regrets that his actions distracted from the professionalism of United employees.
“Taking a private jet was the wrong decision because it was insensitive to our customers who were waiting to get home,” Kirby said in a statement. “I sincerely apologize to our customers and our team members who have been working around-the-clock for several days – often through severe weather – to take care of our customers.”
[Snip]
Kirby blamed much of the problems with the airline’s service meltdown on the Federal Aviation Administration and a lack of adequate staffing at air traffic control centers, particularly in the New York area.
“The FAA frankly failed us this weekend,” said Kirby in an internal company memo to United staff shared with CNN on Wednesday.
[Snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
I hate forced groveling. So what? Doesn’t change anything.
If I was CEO of United, my a** would be on economy just to make sure they were doing it right every time.
Well, if he took up a seat on his own company fight, losers would bitch about that too. He can’t win.
Used to be, airline CEOs paid attention to such things. Former chairman of American gave up his seat on a flight to accommodate me. Delta CEO was known to greet passengers on flights.
I hate United. I unfortunately am flying them to chicago and back in two weeks.
Never a United fan here either.
Kirby needs to do a couple weeks of Undercover Boss so he can see what the real world is like….
The price of a Gulfstream G280 is between $20.00 million and $22.50 million US for 2018 – 2022 models, the last 5 years of production. AircraftBluebook.
Doesn’t everybody know that “private” aviation is the only way to fly?
If you’ve plenty-o-time, fly.
Otherwise drive if you want to get there on time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8M1oNgWhtk
Kirby might learn a thing or two about running his airline properly.
Kirby succeeded in wrecking employee morale and angering customers. That may well cost him more than his private jet to Denver.
Flying on large or even smaller private luxury jets can have its moments....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHyQBqb9g5w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6gWFTv3xE8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRKQ0OS4CnI
The same FAA controls private air traffic as commercial - blaming the FAA is BS, its the same workload for the controller no matter how big the aircraft is.
Given the pressures attending to his job, there is merit involved. Given corporate winking at fags, it is a wash.
I told him, quite confidentially, that Daddy had told us ALWAYS to fly Delta, because Eastern had lost their baggage on their honeymoon! He was very amused, and gave me a little gold pin off his label - a tiny DC-7.
It was C.E. Woolman, the founder and President of Delta.
Excellent point.
Wonderful story! I’ve heard several similar stories about Delta executives meeting and greeting passengers over the years.
If he won’t fly on one of his planes, why should I?
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