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Tag: Scott Kirby

  • United Airlines CEO Credits Hybrid Work With Buoying Airline Industry

    United Airlines CEO Credits Hybrid Work With Buoying Airline Industry

    While many executives are not a fan of hybrid work, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby sees it as a boon for the airline industry.

    The airline industry is facing a challenging recovery from the pandemic. Travel hit new lows as countries locked down as a result of COVID. While things are returning to normal, the airline industry is still struggling to return to its former levels. Kirby sees hybrid work as a big factor that can aid the industry’s recovery.

    According to Fox News, Kirby said at the company’s earnings call that hybrid work is responsible for a “permanent structural change.” Thanks to the workplace trend, the CEO says “every weekend could be a holiday weekend.”

    “That’s why September, a normally off-peak month, was the third-strongest month in our history,” he said. “People want to travel and have experiences, and hybrid work environments untether them from the office and give them the newfound flexibility to travel far more often than normal.”

    “This is not pent-up demand,” Kirby added. “It’s the new normal.”

  • United Airlines CEO Credits Vaccine Mandate With Saving Employee Lives

    United Airlines CEO Credits Vaccine Mandate With Saving Employee Lives

    United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is crediting COVID vaccine mandates with saving the lives of his employees, with the company now going eight weeks without a death.

    Vaccine mandates are a controversial topic, but it appears Kirby is a fan. United Airlines established a company-wide vaccine mandate, threatening to fire employees that refused to comply.

    In an open letter to employees, Kirby acknowledged the company currently has 3,000 employees with the virus. Nevertheless, despite the number of cases, none of the vaccinated employees are hospitalized.

    “The second and most important piece of good news is that our vaccine requirement is working – and saving lives,” Kirby wrote. “While we have about 3,000 employees who are currently positive for COVID, zero of our vaccinated employees are currently hospitalized. Since our vaccine policy went into effect, the hospitalization rate among our employees has been 100x lower than the general population in the U.S. Prior to our vaccine requirement, tragically, more than one United employee on average *per week* was dying from COVID. But we’ve now gone eight straight weeks with zero COVID-related deaths among our vaccinated employees – based on United’s prior experience and the nationwide data related to COVID fatalities among the unvaccinated, that means there are approximately 8-10 United employees who are alive today because of our vaccine requirement.”

  • United Airlines CEO: 5G Rollout ‘Would Be Catastrophic’

    United Airlines CEO: 5G Rollout ‘Would Be Catastrophic’

    United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is warning that Verizon and AT&T’s 5G rollout would be catastrophic for the airline industry.

    Verizon and AT&T spent over $68 billion on C-band spectrum for their 5G networks. C-band spectrum is squarely in the mid-band range, making it ideal for 5G. Unfortunately, the spectrum is very close to the same frequencies airline altimeters use. Although T-Mobile spent $9 billion, it was largely to fill out its existing spectrum, spectrum that poses no danger to the airline industry. Verizon and AT&T, in contrast, delayed their rollout of the new spectrum before agreeing to throttle back the power in an effort to avoid issues.

    Unfortunately, Kirby doesn’t think that will be enough. According to The Independent, Kirby warned Congress in a US Senate Commerce Committee meeting, that the C-band rollout “would be a catastrophic failure of government.”

    Not everyone agrees Kirby’s fears are warranted, with the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CITA) saying concerns about interference amount to fear-mongering.

    “The aviation industry’s fear-mongering relies on completely discredited information and deliberate distortions of fact,” says CTIA.

    At the same time, Kirby was quick to point out the consequences of the FAA’s new directive aimed at addressing the 5G issue, in which the agency prohibits the use of altimeters in low-visibility conditions.

    “Unless something changes – we will not be able to use radio altimeters at 40-something of the largest airports in the country,” Mr Kirby said. “It is a certainty. This is not a debate.”

    The debate between 5G and the airline safety looks to be far from over, but one thing is clear: Until the issue is resolved, airline passengers will likely experience more delays as the industry accommodates the FAA’s new directive.

  • United Airlines Will Start Firing Workers Who Don’t Get Vaccinated

    United Airlines Will Start Firing Workers Who Don’t Get Vaccinated

    United Airlines is taking a zero-tolerance policy toward the unvaccinated, with plans to fire employees who refuse to get the jab.

    Companies around the world are rolling out mandates, requiring their employees to get vaccinated in order to return to work. Many companies are especially emphasizing mandates for employees that travel, given their increased risk of exposure.

    United Airlines told Reuters that some 593 of its employees are at risk of being fired over refusing to comply with the mandate. The company had set a deadline of September 27, and will start firing the non-compliant as early as Tuesday.

    “This was an incredibly difficult decision but keeping our team safe has always been our first priority,” Chief Executive Scott Kirby and President Brett Hart said in a memo, according to Reuters.

  • United Airlines Partnering With Archer For Short-Haul Electric Aircraft

    United Airlines Partnering With Archer For Short-Haul Electric Aircraft

    United Airlines has announced it is partnering with Archer to deploy a fleet of short-haul electric aircraft.

    Archer specializes in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, recently inking a deal with Fiat Chrysler to begin production of flying cars in 2023. Now the company has partnered with United Airlines to product a fleet of eVTOL aircraft for short-haul trips.

    United will work with Archer to design an aircraft specifically for their needs. Once completed, along with Mesa Airlines, United will take possession of a fleet of 200 of the aircraft. The fleet will be used to help individuals travel to United’s hubs, as well as commute in heavily populated areas.

    “Part of how United will combat global warming is by embracing emerging technologies that decarbonize air travel. By working with Archer, United is showing the aviation industry that now is the time to embrace cleaner, more efficient modes of transportation. With the right technology, we can curb the impact aircraft have on the planet, but we have to identify the next generation of companies who will make this a reality early and find ways to help them get off the ground,” said United CEO Scott Kirby. “Archer’s eVTOL design, manufacturing model and engineering expertise has the clear potential to change how people commute within major metropolitan cities all over the world.”

    “We couldn’t be happier to be working with an established global player like United,” said Brett Adcock, co-CEO and co-Founder of Archer. “This deal represents so much more than just a commercial agreement for our aircraft, but rather the start of a relationship that we believe will accelerate our timeline to market as a result of United’s strategic guidance around FAA certification, operations and maintenance.”

    Image Credit: United Airlines