As a former PI employee, I must say it was Gordin Bethune that should ALWAYS be credited for the turn a round at CAL. Why? I remember the pre GB CAL. An old roommate of mine works for CAL and if you think there is a lot of self loathing at airlines like LCC, meet the old CAL. GB was masterful in changing that.
It was GB who saw the potential in EWR and mastered the gates for terminal at LGA with US Airways. BTW, PI had a respectable presence at EWR and could had very well hubbed or grown there had the USAir merger not taken place.
GB understood the importance of O&D traffic. US finally learned it when they opened up PHL...another delay ridden city but the gem of US Airways. There was so much concentation on LGA and JFK that everyone forgot about Sewark and look now..You can now get from Manhattan to EWR in 20 minutes making it a much more desirable air port for Manhattanites and tourist.
I really believe GB understood the importance of offering EWR has an alternative to JFK. It's no secret of JFK's reputation (then anyway) and CAL was masterful in persuading travelers to avoid JFK.
Also, EWR WAS a trashy place, but I have BEEN thru the CAL facilities and they ARE nice and despite the delays, this is not your mother's Newark.
CAL is sleek, clean, modern, and knows the value of the biz traveler like none other.
In fairness, all the airlines with a large extensive network in the New York City Metro get much more attention from the press and media...especially the travel mags. You have a small carrier in ATL called Airtran that has a great reputation but almost NEVER gets the credit or exposure of say, a Jetblue. I could say the same for Midwest, Frontier, and Alaska. CAL has done a great job exploiting that.
CAL is smart, competitive, and silently aggressive and they have embraced the cities they hub in as opposed to alienating them.
CAL gives me hope for the company I work for. If CAL can do it, so can all the others. I say GREAT JOB, CAL!!