United CEO Scott Kirby is apologizing after taking a private jet during a week when his airline was canceling thousands of flights.
The airline confirmed Kirby flew from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey to Denver, Colorado, on Wednesday, and that the company did not pay for his flight. Teterboro is about 17 miles from Newark, New Jersey, where one of United's largest hubs is located and which was the center of the airline's meltdown this week.
In a statement, Kirby said he regrets his actions distracted from the professionalism of United employees. "Taking a private jet was the wrong decision because it was insensitive to our customers who were waiting to get home," Kirby said in a statement. "I sincerely apologize to our customers and our team members who have been working around-the-clock for several days - often through severe weather - to take care of our customers."
On Wednesday, many customers at Newark Liberty International Airport couldn't get to their destinations because there were no flights available. United customers have been plagued by flight delays, cancellations and lost luggage this week. Going forward, Kirby promised "to better demonstrate my respect for the dedication of our team members and the loyalty of our customers."The airline has canceled more than 3,000 flights since Saturday, stranding thousands of customers. As of Friday evening, United had 979 flight delays, or 34% of its operations, and 234 canceled flights, according to
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