From the Q & A: ".....
Q: Can you describe what the last week has been like for you? This is probably not what you signed up for.
A: The only reason I came here, to US Airways, was because I was asked by RSA [Retirement Systems of Alabama, the airline's majority owner] and the board of directors to get us to consensual agreements with the unions so RSA would not lose their entire investment in this airline. I would say there is very little equity value left in this company. I have come to appreciate a lot of the people at this particular airline and become emotionally involved with the people that are here.
Monday [the first full day of bankruptcy] was a very, very big personal disappointment, that we would be forced into bankruptcy and forced in without four of the unions on board with us. At another time I might have just said the hell with it, but I am not a quitter. I think the place can be salvaged, and I think people deserve my best efforts and the best efforts of our management team. I did not take this personally. That doesn't mean I am not emotionally stressed and emotionally disappointed. I think the airline is still worth saving, and I think people deserve our best try."
Excatly when is the company going to employ a CEO with a management team that is here TO RUN THE AIRLINE? why wasn't his response something along the lines of.... USAirways is made up of several airlines with long histories, of course the competitve and economic envioroments have changed, but i am here for one reason, to make USAirways what it once was, a PROFITABLE, respected air carrier in the United States. I am going to 1. make the airline profitbale 2. here are the first 3 steps in that direction 3. I can not achieve this alone and you can not back a plan that a. you dont know about and b. have no faith in (thus i need to EXPLAIN it to you better than i must to the traveling public. 4. If i take care of my employees, they will take care of my customers, who will take care of my shareholders.
only here (not because he wanted the job) asked by RSA (nor do i have any idea on how to RUN an airline ) asked by RSA to get consenual agreements (again not run the airline but merely work on labor contracts?) so that the RSA would not lose its equity investment (again see above if anyone (business 101) bothered to RUN the airline, the employees would rally behind a true leader, the product would become better, more people would book on the airline, more revenues would increase the profitablity, more profit higher stock price, higher stock price RSA gets its money back and then some.
Remember PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST program. once again the "asset managers" have it backwards. RSA should be at the BOTTOM of the list not First.
Until this is fixed the continual problems that have plauged this airline will continue.
RUN THE AIRLINE gentleman. EVERYTHING else will take care of itself in due time.
do you actually bother to read my tag line or what?