Given the recent knocking of Ted (and Song) in the press and the debate on these boards, these comments from Tilton yesterday in the SF Chronicle make for interesting reading.
United gains momentum
Interesting specific comments (as well as discussion of mailine SE Asia routes) are:
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Ted "contributed positively to profitability in the month of March, ''
In particular, he said, "Ted is innovating and creating for the parent company to study. Ted has had a employer/management council from the very beginning.'' This fluidity, as well as the carrier's whimsical, informal style, is helping to lighten up UAL's rather reserved corporate culture, he said.
"Ted can do whatever Ted bloody well wants to do,'' Tilton said, ...
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There are the usual negative analyst comments pouring cold water, but me thinks there's good reason why AirTran and Frontier are fighting hard on the ATSB loan and claiming "Ted has no strategic value" or whatever the exact quote was.
Reading the tea leaves, it also seems significant (help -- I'm souding like a certain US Captain!) that Tilton is sticking his neck out with these comments at the same time as Grinstein has been notably lukewarm on Song. To me it seems to indicate that the differences between Ted and Song (link to parent brand, flights from hubs, smaller aircraft) are more significant and are having greater financial impact than the press and analysts realize. (Pilot cost differences are no doubt important too.)
As well as looking forward to reading everyone's comments, I'd certainly be interested in hearing of the experience anyone has had with the employer/management council.
United gains momentum
Interesting specific comments (as well as discussion of mailine SE Asia routes) are:
----
Ted "contributed positively to profitability in the month of March, ''
In particular, he said, "Ted is innovating and creating for the parent company to study. Ted has had a employer/management council from the very beginning.'' This fluidity, as well as the carrier's whimsical, informal style, is helping to lighten up UAL's rather reserved corporate culture, he said.
"Ted can do whatever Ted bloody well wants to do,'' Tilton said, ...
-----
There are the usual negative analyst comments pouring cold water, but me thinks there's good reason why AirTran and Frontier are fighting hard on the ATSB loan and claiming "Ted has no strategic value" or whatever the exact quote was.
Reading the tea leaves, it also seems significant (help -- I'm souding like a certain US Captain!) that Tilton is sticking his neck out with these comments at the same time as Grinstein has been notably lukewarm on Song. To me it seems to indicate that the differences between Ted and Song (link to parent brand, flights from hubs, smaller aircraft) are more significant and are having greater financial impact than the press and analysts realize. (Pilot cost differences are no doubt important too.)
As well as looking forward to reading everyone's comments, I'd certainly be interested in hearing of the experience anyone has had with the employer/management council.
