Cosmo
Veteran
- Aug 20, 2002
- 840
- 0
767jetz:
Thanks for the kind words -- they are very much appreciated. But I''m just trying to make sure that this discussion looks at all of the facts, good or bad, about United''s journey through the bankruptcy process. And I believe that looking at the situation at other carriers, including (but not limited to) US Airways, helps to keep things in the proper perspective. (Disclaimer [once again!]: I am not an employee of United or any other airline.)
That said, I do think Chip has some valid points. United does need to increase its unit revenues, produce a viable business plan, and attract enough liquidity (whether it''s all debt, all equity or some combination of both) to sustain its operations on a long-term basis once the carrier has emerged from bankruptcy.
But where I do find fault with Chip''s view of United''s prospects is in his near total lack of recognition that United has made some significant progress in turning itself around, particularly in the area of operating costs where the carrier has achieved annual reductions of about $5 billion out of a pre-bankruptcy cost base of roughly $16-$17 billion per year (that''s a drop of about 30%, a notable achievement that was neither easy nor painless). IMHO, I believe that Chip''s continual "doom and gloom" postings about United together with his support of (and the implied United employee furlough threats contained within) an interesting/unique/whatever corporate transaction with US Airways, while ignoring many of the continuing problems at his own airline (just look at the US Airways board!) that itself has only relatively recently emerged from bankruptcy protection, is in rather poor taste.
So while Chip is certainly free (and as entitled as you, me or anyone else) to post whatever he desires on this board, I will not hesitate to challenge him, or anybody else, if I believe they have made a factual error, fallatious or gratuitous comparisons or arguments, or simply have an opinion with which I disagree. After all, I''m free to post whatever I please as well, whether it''s additional facts, opinions or an occasional question. And while I may not always be right (and I''ll admit it when I''m wrong), I strive to add as much as I can to what I hope will be a lively and spirited debate.
Thanks for the kind words -- they are very much appreciated. But I''m just trying to make sure that this discussion looks at all of the facts, good or bad, about United''s journey through the bankruptcy process. And I believe that looking at the situation at other carriers, including (but not limited to) US Airways, helps to keep things in the proper perspective. (Disclaimer [once again!]: I am not an employee of United or any other airline.)
That said, I do think Chip has some valid points. United does need to increase its unit revenues, produce a viable business plan, and attract enough liquidity (whether it''s all debt, all equity or some combination of both) to sustain its operations on a long-term basis once the carrier has emerged from bankruptcy.
But where I do find fault with Chip''s view of United''s prospects is in his near total lack of recognition that United has made some significant progress in turning itself around, particularly in the area of operating costs where the carrier has achieved annual reductions of about $5 billion out of a pre-bankruptcy cost base of roughly $16-$17 billion per year (that''s a drop of about 30%, a notable achievement that was neither easy nor painless). IMHO, I believe that Chip''s continual "doom and gloom" postings about United together with his support of (and the implied United employee furlough threats contained within) an interesting/unique/whatever corporate transaction with US Airways, while ignoring many of the continuing problems at his own airline (just look at the US Airways board!) that itself has only relatively recently emerged from bankruptcy protection, is in rather poor taste.
So while Chip is certainly free (and as entitled as you, me or anyone else) to post whatever he desires on this board, I will not hesitate to challenge him, or anybody else, if I believe they have made a factual error, fallatious or gratuitous comparisons or arguments, or simply have an opinion with which I disagree. After all, I''m free to post whatever I please as well, whether it''s additional facts, opinions or an occasional question. And while I may not always be right (and I''ll admit it when I''m wrong), I strive to add as much as I can to what I hope will be a lively and spirited debate.
02 PM Chip Munn wrote: 
