(Photo:Ft.Worth Star-Telegram)
Finally.
Yesterday American Airlines’ CEO Gerard Arpey took the podium, and took control of a situation that the airline had failed to take control of since news of the airline’s MD-80 groundings first hit the news wires on Tuesday.
Gerard said all the right things — and in the right ways. He was just a bit late in saying them.
Next time, I suggest that American Airlines engage in some online technology to get Gerard and his take on the situation out there sooner. Yes, I know he was out of town when this story hit, but the airline could have used a video teleconference set-up, much like Southwest Airlines used recently to unroll their Business Select product. Reporters all over the country could listen and watch Gary Kelly make the presentation and could then type in questions, or call in with a question. It was all real time. Worked very well.
I would highly suggest the crisis communication team at American consider such an alternative next time — as the Admiral’s Club in Los Angeles does have broadband connectivity.
And yes, it needs to be Gerard. Not Dan Garton.
Speaking of, I am glad to see that Dan apologized to the airline’s mechanics, who were, I think, justifiably pissed off at some comments Dan made in his attempt at a press conference that we noted here in PlaneBuzz yesterday.
What a mess.
Ticker: (NYSE:AMR)
Technorati Tags: airline CEOs, airlines, American Airlines
I watched Gerard Arpey yesterday and I think he would have been more effective in extracting himself from this situation by taking a page from the Japanese culture and he should have committed Hara-kiri right there on live TV. AMR stock would have jumped 10 points by closing.
Captain Hill, is that you? Your comment gives a whole new significance to the “blood money” allegation.
How does management negotiate with these people? They get paid for not working and the response is to launch attack ads denigrating the company.
How totally short-sighted. Get real.
Richard F,
The employees now refer to the Crandall regime as “the good old days” and hark back on the slogan “The On Time Machine.”
AA has the same employees flying the same equipment in the same weather to the same cities but now we are last in all departments. All that has changed from the Crandall era is the leadership. Don’t blame the employees for the all new AAeroflot Too.
The only way to change the course AMR is on is to fire everyone who has colleted a PUP Buck in the last five years. Until Arpey & Co. drive off into the sunset in their Bentley’s and Maybach’s the battle will continue.