United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby Apologizes for Taking Private Jet Amidst Flight Cancellations
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby issued a public apology on Friday for opting to take a private plane while thousands of United passengers were left stranded due to the airline’s extensive flight cancellations. The decision to board a private jet was criticized as insensitive to the plight of the stranded customers.
Kirby released a statement through the airline, acknowledging his mistake and expressing his sincere apology to both the affected customers and the hardworking team members who have been tirelessly working to assist customers amidst difficult weather conditions.
“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,” Kirby said in the statement. He also promised to make amends by demonstrating a greater respect for the dedication of the team members and the loyalty of the customers in the future.
The incident occurred on Wednesday when Kirby took a private flight from Teterboro, New Jersey, to Denver, on a day when United canceled a significant number of flights, amounting to one-fourth of its schedule. It should be noted that these figures do not include United Express flights.
This week, United has been forced to cancel nearly 3,000 flights, with the largest number of cancellations occurring at the Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, which was severely affected by thunderstorms throughout the week.
Kirby attributed the disruptions in Newark to a shortage of air traffic controllers from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In a note to employees, he expressed his disappointment in the FAA’s handling of the situation, stating that “the FAA frankly failed us” by imposing restrictions on incoming and outgoing flights at the airport, where United is the leading carrier.
Furthermore, Kirby revealed that the canceled flights resulted in leaving United aircraft and crews in unfavorable positions, amplifying the airline’s challenges when faced with adverse weather conditions.
The Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who oversees the FAA, took to Twitter to criticize United’s performance, noting that other airlines had recovered from the storms, whereas United continued to struggle. In a graph shared by Buttigieg, United’s cancellation rate was noticeably higher than its industry counterparts.
Despite some improvements in United’s operations later in the week, the airline still faced cancellation rates higher than its competitors. However, United pledged to rectify the situation in time for the upcoming July 4 holiday weekend, a busy period for airports across the nation.
United passengers have voiced their frustrations on social media platforms and through interviews with reporters, recounting long airport queues and having to sleep at airports when flights were canceled.
In addition to passenger backlash, unions representing pilots and flight attendants have joined in the criticism against United’s management, blaming them for insufficient planning, a shortage of crew schedulers, and operating an excessive number of flights.
Chicago-based United Airlines clarified that it did not cover the cost of Kirby’s private flight on Wednesday. The airline declined to comment on whether Kirby frequently utilizes private jets.
As United Airlines strives to rectify its operations and improve customer service, the pressure mounts as the July 4 holiday weekend promises increased air travel with millions of people passing through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints.