Originally Posted by
Andy
Where did you get the idea that AA axed Kirby? He was Dougie's right hand man for more than a decade. UAL wooed him over, dangling the prospect of succeeding Oscar.
Kirby may be hated by AA pilots but Kirby did a good job of cleaning up the merged AA/USAirways operation.
One can hate Kirby, but he's one of the better airline execs at running an airline out there. Let's not forget the Crandall was also despised when he was an active airline exec.
You may be right. I believe he was Parker’s right hand man for two decades. Rumors I heard were that something happened between Parker - Kirby and possibly the AA BOD or something to sour the relationship. As you know a lot of ego at that level.
From what I was told from one of our MEC reps when Kirby briefed our MEC within a few months of arriving at UAL. He had a fire in his belly to make sure AA regretted losing him. He stated to our MEC, AA thought he was too aggressive.
Either way fired/replaced by AA or he was recruited and or stolen by Oscar. Most likely he’s our next CEO and has a lot to prove. Time will tell if he can pull it off, but the only way he’s got a chance to be very successful, if he works with ALPA. A long drawn out fight over Scope, he loses and he will not be successful during the next three years with his aggressive domestic growth plans. If he fails the BOD, and or Wall Street will probably make sure he’s gone.
I believe we have a good chance for a contract this year as there is a window of opportunity and both sides want a deal. Kirby for reasons I discussed and ALPA because this is the third bite of the apple in a long bull market that could be on its last run.