Financial Times
Posted on June 27, 2012
The Unfriendly Skies
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/9893fbf...#axzz1zFSamN7H [subscription required]

United Pilot Jay Heppner Responsed to United CEO Jeffrey Smisek’s statement that U.S. policymakers are destroying the airline industry:

“Jeff Smisek ought to take a hard look in the mirror before accusing U.S. policymakers of destroying the airline industry. This is a man who has made millions and millions of dollars from United’s merger with Continental while single handedly directing the company’s strategy of eliminating U.S. jobs by offshoring and outsourcing them.

Just last week Mr. Smisek announced three new deals with foreign carriers while United pilots, who made tremendous sacrifices after September 11 to keep the company in business, continued to be held in a permanent holding pattern as the company stalls contract negotiations.

United is not ranked the worst airline by customers because of U.S. policymakers. It is because Mr. Smisek is making poor decisions that only benefit his management team’s bank accounts while disregarding what is best for customers and employees.”