It was a tricky week for United Airlines. Several days of thunderstorms led to the cancelation of hundreds of flights within the Recent York City area. United Airlines was significantly affected, with greater than 40% of its flights suffering delays. United CEO Scott Kirby put a number of the blame on the FAA for its decision to cancel flights. However the airline chief is facing criticism after it was noticed that he flew a non-public jet from Recent York to Denver on June twenty eighth.
United CEO not flying his airline
On June thirtieth, several media outlets picked up on the incontrovertible fact that Kirby had flown a non-public jet between two cities home to United Airlines’ largest hubs: Recent York and Denver. CNN notes that the airline confirmed that its CEO, Scott Kirby, flew a non-public jet from Recent Jersey’s Teterboro Airport to Denver, Colorado, on June twenty eighth.
Newark Liberty International Airport, one in all United’s largest hubs, just isn’t too far-off from Teterboro. Notably, the airport was one in all several Recent York City area facilities that saw significant delays and flight cancelations which have been ongoing since Sunday.
The bad optics of an airline CEO flying a non-public jet while hundreds of his customers remained on the bottom were enough for the airline to make clear with the media that United didn’t pay for his flight. In an announcement of apology, as reported by USA Today, Kirby stated:
“Taking a non-public jet was the unsuitable decision since it was insensitive to our customers who were waiting to get home. I sincerely apologize to our customers and our team members who’ve been working around-the-clock for several days – often through severe weather – to handle our customers,”
Kirby adds that he regrets his decision because it has distracted from the professionalism of his airline’s employees, who’ve been coping with customers at 4 different airports.
Disruptions proceed, but United “moving in the proper direction”
It continues to be a difficult period for airlines. With flight cancelations going down on such a big scale, the growing backlog of travelers waiting to get to their destinations has continued to grow. Lost luggage for delayed and canceled flights has added further stress for travelers and airlines.
On June thirtieth, US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg posted to Twitter that airspace was continuing to recuperate but that United’s disruptions were In accordance with CNN, United has canceled over 3,000 flights since Saturday, June twenty fourth. The Chicago-based carrier estimated that, as of June twenty eighth, over 150,000 customers had been impacted.
So what do you think that of United Airlines’ CEO taking a non-public jet amid this significant cancellation and delay period? And what do you think that of his apology statement? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment!