If I had to run the airline in the U.S., with all its regulations, I would focus on long term shareholder value, because those are the folks who lent me their money with the expectation that they would get a return on it. That's Capitalism! It is also the fiduciary duty of the BOD.

I would only finance infrastrucutre with equity. Operating costs I would only finance with debt.

I assume you mean a legacy carrier. If so, I would structure the airline to offer dependable service to the business community. I would pay fair market salaries to employees in the hope that they would not unionize. I would ask business men who have good connections in D.C. to join the BOD. I would headquarter the company in a state with a diverse economy, a large business community, an airport authority that keeps the airport modernized, with multiple connections, and a satellite airport near by for emergencies, and has a reasonable tax structure.

Since I cannot discriminate against old hags in the U.S., I would hire only modest women with some education. No guys as FA's. NO Homos!

I would structure the company to have a pilot and a maintenance rep. at quarterly meetings for their input. Bonuses would be structured to reflect profitability.