Actually they were very close to closing DEN, LAX & IAD under the end of Smisek’s tenure early into Oscar’s regime. It wasn’t just the hedge funds behind this.
It was a common theme on Wall street re: UAL post merger. I believe you are referring to Julia Haywood, she became pretty high up in UAL management.
https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-...om-United-post
Oscar fired Julia and put an end to the proposed plan to close LAX, DEN & IAD. Shortly thereafter Scott came over from AA as our President.
FYI - For perspective for the newbies or those of us with selective memories.
Our bottom pilot hired pre pandemic was at the end of Feb 2020 and was seniority number (just over) 13,000.
On paper during the pandemic we were supposed to furlough 3000-4000 pilots (according to who you talked too or which flight ops or crew resources bulletin you read).
We fortunately didn’t furlough anyone. We didn’t hire from the beginning of 2020 till the end of 2021. Since we started hiring again. That last new hire in early 2020 that was around 13,000 is now around 10,800 out of 17,500 pilots. We have hired about 6700 pilots since the end of 2021.
One could make a very valid argument that United came very close to shutting down & liquidating during the post 9/11 bankruptcy.
So just remember this is a very volatile industry. No one’s on top or bottom forever. Anything is possible.