Originally Posted by
robthree
I think you grossly 'misunderestimate' how abysmal CAL was prior to Bethune getting a chance to pull it out of the dumpster fire. Everything he did was an improvement over the prior regimes that were sill trying to follow Lorenzo's legacy. Yeah, the contracts were not industry standard, but that does not diminish the fact that they were better than before, employee morale and customer satisfaction kept improving while he was in charge.
You're using contemporary conditions to judge the actions of the past. CAL of the early 90's was as bad a place to work as any in aviation history.
I’m doing no such thing. CAL 87 hire. Gordon did do good things no doubt. But he was also very lucky given the timing of everything. He does deserve some credit, but I also believe Alot of credit of the CAL turn around goes to Gregg Brennernan the brains behind the turn around.
Gordo was in the Houston pilot Lounge using obscenities to describe Brennerman after he left. Gordo’s ego got way too big. Point being Gordo’s not the perfect almighty that many make him out to be.
He also screwed up big time significantly with CAL’s cash position a few months prior to 9/11 that put CAL in a severe liquidity crisis immediately after 9/11. All other majors had a far better cash positions and overall liquidity after 911 .