CHICAGO, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Chapter of the
Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) today called for the resignation of
Glenn Tilton as CEO of United Airlines (Nasdaq: UAUA) and stressed the need
for new leadership and direction at the helm of the air carrier. United
Airlines now ranks at the bottom of nearly every performance and customer
satisfaction category, and its financial performance is steadily
deteriorating.
The United Chapter of ALPA has launched a Web site
(http://www.GlennTilton.com) that highlights the failures of Glenn Tilton's
management. United's passengers, investors, media and the general public
are invited to visit http://www.GlennTilton.com for detailed information on why
Glenn Tilton must go.
"Under Glenn Tilton's tenure, United has gone from being the finest
airline in the world, with the best route structure and safety record, to a
shell of its former self," said Captain Steve Wallach, chairman of the
United Master Executive Council. "He has had every opportunity to turn this
company around, and tap the abilities of its first-class employees, but
instead he has run it into the ground. We believe that with the intense
challenges facing our industry, United Airlines will not be able to thrive
as long as Glenn Tilton, with his proven record of incompetence, continues
as CEO. It is time for Glenn Tilton to go."
With Glenn Tilton in charge, United Airlines has gone from being the
world's preeminent airline to the bottom of nearly all performance and
customer satisfaction categories:
-- In performance, United ranks 18th of 19 for on-time arrivals; 17th
of 19 in customer complaints and tenth of 19 for misplaced baggage,
according to the latest Department of Transportation data.
-- In customers' willingness to pay for the product, despite capacity
reductions, load factors in the first 6 months of 2008 are down 2.6
percent, compared with a similar period in 2007.
-- In stock performance, UAUA is down 73 percent since United exited
bankruptcy on February 1, 2006.
-- In profitability, United has lost more money in 2008 than it has
made since exiting bankruptcy.
-- In overall reputation, United is rated "below the rest" and tied for
last place on the latest J.D. Powers satisfaction study.
-- A recent "Employee Climate Survey" conducted by United revealed that
only 38 percent of United employees take pride in United, down 15
percentage points from 2006. Average Fortune 500 companies find that 84
percent of their employees express pride in the company for which they
work. Sixty-two percent of United's employees are not proud of their
company, 70 percent are dissatisfied with their jobs, 73 percent are
looking for new jobs and 77 percent do not think United is a great place to
work.
"This is not a personal attack on Glenn Tilton," said Captain Wallach.
"These dismal numbers speak for themselves. They are a reflection of his
inability to lead, his incompetence as a manager and his failure in
virtually every category that can be measured. We have tried every
conceivable way to convince him to invest in, and maximize the goodwill of,
his employees. He has failed miserably.
"We continue to believe that United can restore its place among the
leaders in the airline industry, and we continue to urge all United pilots
to work to bring about that goal," said Captain Wallach. "But time is
running out. United faces tremendous challenges. The first step must be a
change in leadership and direction.
"It is time for Glenn Tilton to go."
For more information on why Glenn Tilton should resign, go to
http://www.GlennTilton.com.
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