Posted on 11/21/2008 9:03:20 AM PST by Sub-Driver
GM to return two leased jets amid criticism By Poornima Gupta Poornima Gupta 12 mins ago
DETROIT (Reuters) General Motors Corp will return two of its leased corporate jets amid intense criticism in Washington this week on the luxury travel arrangements of its chief executive even as the company pleads for federal aid.
CEO Rick Wagoner was in the capital to testify on the company's dire financial situation but his testimony was overshadowed by irate lawmakers who blasted him for flying on a private jet to ask for public funds and failing to make personal sacrifices in exchange for federal assistance.
Chief executives from Ford Motor Co, and Chrysler LLC, who were also there to plead for $25 billion in federal aid, came under fire too for flying to Washington in private jets.
GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson said on Friday GM decided to return the aircraft because of a "really aggressive cutback in travel."
The company, which is in a cost-cutting mode, is scrutinizing every trip, he said, but declined to disclose the name of the company it leases the airplanes from.
Wilkinson said the decision to return the leased corporate jets was made before this week's hearings and that the company in September returned two other of the seven jets it had at the beginning of the year.
"There is a perception issue," Wilkinson said of Wagoner's travel to Washington on a private jet. "We need to be very sensitive to that going forward."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Leased jets. Who do these people think they are, Congress or something?!
“Leased jets. Who do these people think they are, Congress or something?!”
Lets get video of Barney Frank traveling on a private or charter aircraft...
It really amazes me how the stockholders usually have nothing to say about a CEO who gives himself and his executives six-figure bonuses, a six-figure travel budget, and a truly amazing expense account to throw cocktail parties for business associates, all while the business is performing so poorly that it it teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.
I don’t have a problem with anyone, exec or not, taking a chartered plane anywhere, PROVIDED THEY CAN AFFORD IT.
These beggars are begging ME for MY money, and *I* do not fly on chartered planes, and my times is money too!
Wow! Problem solved! These jets add a cost of a penny per car while UAW health and pension costs add $1500 per vehicle. Now that the jets are gone, GM is back in black. Yea! /drippingsarcasmwithheavydisgust
GM needs to declare bankruptcy, kill a division, reduce models, close dealerships, layoff excess staff and start over. Period. Ford too. Bankruptcy is the best option.
If GM still thinks is a perception problem then you guys are dumber than we thought.
Sincerely,
A Tax Payer
This is how govt. and business operate today. To heck with improving your processes, everything is a perception problem that needs to be solved through marketing.
Then they should look into tele-conferencing.
And I will also bet that those aircraft are not just for the CEOs, they are used by others as well.
They may be dumb, but they are not stupid.
These auto makers (all of them, mind you) are international organizations - they have holdings all around the world.
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