Barger Out As JetBlue COO

[FDJ2]

Faces In The News
Barger Out As JetBlue COO
Andrew Farrell, 03.08.07, 6:45 PM ET




JetBlue announced a new Chief Operating Officer to replace David Barger just a month after a major logistical meltdown that left Barger personally asking stranded customers for forgiveness.

The airline said Russell Chew will take over as COO on Mar. 19, replacing Barger who held the role since 1998. Barger will continue as President of the company.

Barger and JetBlue were mortified in February after an operational fiasco that left thousands stranded and held some passengers on grounded planes for more than six hours. As flights resumed, Barger went to John F. Kennedy airport to apologize in person to the disgruntled fliers.

Since then, the company has scrambled to respond with changes they assure will preclude a repeat of the disaster and rebuild a carefully crafted image of excellent customer service. (See: "Neeleman's True-Blue Atonement?")
Analysts said the appointment of Chew is another step in those efforts and bolsters the company's claims of genuine repentance for the mishap.

"We believe this enhances JetBlue's operations expertise," said Jim Corridore, an analyst at Standard & Poors Equity Research, in a research note. "In our opinion, the company has taken the right steps to recover from the Feb. 14 storms."

Chew leaves the COO post at the Federal Aviation Administration, a position he held since February of 2003. Before that, the Los Angeles native spent 17 years with American Airlines.

Ray Neidl, an analyst at Calyon Securities, said that background makes Chew well-qualified to avoid a repeat of last month's disruptions. Neidl said though he didn't think the hiring was an indication that JetBlue blamed departing COO Barger, but part of a larger management overhaul to strengthen its operational and financial leadership.

"JetBlue has been making major management changes and this isn't first one," said Neidl. "They've been focusing on getting stronger there for the past year."

JetBlue hired its Chief Revenue Officer Trey Urbahn from private jet provider OneSky Jets in November 2006 and named John Harvey Chief Financial Officer in May of 2006.

 

[General Lee]

It is getting a lot more expensive running Jetblue. Are you sure it is still a LCC? All of these high profile guys getting new jobs for big bucks I am sure. One of the major problems Jetblue has is JFK. It is just a poorly run airport, and delays multiply easily. Especially with Delta Dash 8s in the way! Sorry Jetblue about that one!


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Palomino]

It is getting a lot more expensive running Jetblue. Are you sure it is still a LCC? All of these high profile guys getting new jobs for big bucks I am sure. One of the major problems Jetblue has is JFK. It is just a poorly run airport, and delays multiply easily. Especially with Delta Dash 8s in the way! Sorry Jetblue about that one!


Bye Bye--General Lee

didn't know Delta had Dash-8's. this is a cool turboprop that they used to have though. what a gig that would've been!

http://us.airliners.net/photos/middle/4/3/9/0533934.jpg

 

[IronCityBlue]

Dash 8 rhetoric

It is getting a lot more expensive running Jetblue. Are you sure it is still a LCC? All of these high profile guys getting new jobs for big bucks I am sure. One of the major problems Jetblue has is JFK. It is just a poorly run airport, and delays multiply easily. Especially with Delta Dash 8s in the way! Sorry Jetblue about that one!


Bye Bye--General Lee

I've heard a lot of conspiracy theory types say Delta put the Dashes all up in our grillz in JFK to disrupt the operation but it just doesn't make sense. There's not that many there and most of the time the problem is NYC airspace in general (God help us all for the rest of the day if there's a thundesrstorm over RBV for 10 minutes) But I really don't see much of an operational difference between being behind 45 heavies for takeoff versus 45 heavies + 2 Dashes. Its just not that big of a deal.

 

[sayagain?]

It is getting a lot more expensive running Jetblue. Are you sure it is still a LCC? All of these high profile guys getting new jobs for big bucks I am sure. One of the major problems Jetblue has is JFK. It is just a poorly run airport, and delays multiply easily. Especially with Delta Dash 8s in the way! Sorry Jetblue about that one!


Bye Bye--General Lee

Are those guys on Delta's sen. list since they are flying your airplanes?

 

[AA717driver]

Are those guys on Delta's sen. list since they are flying your airplanes?

Come on, you know that to the DAL MEC, SCOPE is just a mouthwash... TC

 

[HomerJ]

Faces In The News
Barger Out As JetBlue COO
Andrew Farrell, 03.08.07, 6:45 PM ET




JetBlue announced a new Chief Operating Officer to replace David Barger just a month after a major logistical meltdown that left Barger personally asking stranded customers for forgiveness.

The airline said Russell Chew will take over as COO on Mar. 19, replacing Barger who held the role since 1998. Barger will continue as President of the company.

Barger and JetBlue were mortified in February after an operational fiasco that left thousands stranded and held some passengers on grounded planes for more than six hours. As flights resumed, Barger went to John F. Kennedy airport to apologize in person to the disgruntled fliers.

Since then, the company has scrambled to respond with changes they assure will preclude a repeat of the disaster and rebuild a carefully crafted image of excellent customer service. (See: "Neeleman's True-Blue Atonement?")
Analysts said the appointment of Chew is another step in those efforts and bolsters the company's claims of genuine repentance for the mishap.

"We believe this enhances JetBlue's operations expertise," said Jim Corridore, an analyst at Standard & Poors Equity Research, in a research note. "In our opinion, the company has taken the right steps to recover from the Feb. 14 storms."

Chew leaves the COO post at the Federal Aviation Administration, a position he held since February of 2003. Before that, the Los Angeles native spent 17 years with American Airlines.

Ray Neidl, an analyst at Calyon Securities, said that background makes Chew well-qualified to avoid a repeat of last month's disruptions. Neidl said though he didn't think the hiring was an indication that JetBlue blamed departing COO Barger, but part of a larger management overhaul to strengthen its operational and financial leadership.

"JetBlue has been making major management changes and this isn't first one," said Neidl. "They've been focusing on getting stronger there for the past year."

JetBlue hired its Chief Revenue Officer Trey Urbahn from private jet provider OneSky Jets in November 2006 and named John Harvey Chief Financial Officer in May of 2006.

IF Mr. Chew is as good as we hear, I say pay him whatever he wants. We need to start spending a dollar to save five as opposed to the other way around...

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

He worked for the Evil Empire (AMR) then the FAA? Now he is a kind culture guy?

"Hi, welcome to Jetblue, I am Mr. Chew! I am here to help..........you!"

 

[Draginass]

Don't kid yourself, Chew is there to bust any unionization attempts. The honeymoon is over and the hammer is coming out. Chew is great, just ask him, he'll tell you. Maybe he can get Jim Cato from Atlas on board.

 

[lowecur]

It is getting a lot more expensive running Jetblue. Are you sure it is still a LCC? All of these high profile guys getting new jobs for big bucks I am sure. One of the major problems Jetblue has is JFK. It is just a poorly run airport, and delays multiply easily. Especially with Delta Dash 8s in the way! Sorry Jetblue about that one!


Bye Bye--General Lee

Let's see, Bush Administration wants to auction off LGA slots in new bill if signed by 9/30/07. FAA wants to limit the average seats per gate to between 105-122. Will one of these proposals force DL to change their stategy at LGA or force the sale of gates if they can't comply? Yeah, I think so.

Do you think if this possibly works, it could be the model used around the country to free up these large hubs dominated by the <50 seater? Air space is the problem and DL is one of the worse offenders at protecting their gates with these underproductive knats that create the huge delays we see around the country.

Granted, you can't eliminate all the <50 seaters. It would probably be a 5 to 10 year transition so as not to hurt the already fragile financies of the newly restructured legacys. But don't think for a minute that the present situation will continue into infinity.

imp: ​

 

[General Lee]

Are those guys on Delta's sen. list since they are flying your airplanes?

Just like those Expressjet guys flying E145s in place of your downed E190s.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[General Lee]

Let's see, Bush Administration wants to auction off LGA slots in new bill if signed by 9/30/07. FAA wants to limit the average seats per gate to between 105-122. Will one of these proposals force DL to change their stategy at LGA or force the sale of gates if they can't comply? Yeah, I think so.

Do you think if this possibly works, it could be the model used around the country to free up these large hubs dominated by the <50 seater? Air space is the problem and DL is one of the worse offenders at protecting their gates with these underproductive knats that create the huge delays we see around the country.

Granted, you can't eliminate all the <50 seaters. It would probably be a 5 to 10 year transition so as not to hurt the already fragile financies of the newly restructured legacys. But don't think for a minute that the present situation will continue into infinity.

imp: ​

You're trying to find a silver linging to all of the bad EMB press. How is your EMB stock doing? You used to brag about your E190 and the sales, yet all the bad press has not helped.

As far as LGA goes with DL, I think we will do just fine. All of this bad press from USAir too, with their system integration problems as of late, has really boosted our ops in NYC and around the country. Our Delta Shuttle flights have been doing a lot better too. Thanks JBU and USAir, just when we need a boost you guys help a bit.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Dizel8]

Just like those Expressjet guys flying E145s in place of your downed E190s.
Bye Bye--General Lee

2 ERJs vs how many at DAL?

Just busting your chops, but really!

 

[General Lee]

I've heard a lot of conspiracy theory types say Delta put the Dashes all up in our grillz in JFK to disrupt the operation but it just doesn't make sense. There's not that many there and most of the time the problem is NYC airspace in general (God help us all for the rest of the day if there's a thundesrstorm over RBV for 10 minutes) But I really don't see much of an operational difference between being behind 45 heavies for takeoff versus 45 heavies + 2 Dashes. Its just not that big of a deal.

Let's just say I heard it from a birdy that the RJ and Dash build up wasn't just for connecting pax.....


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[General Lee]

2 ERJs vs how many at DAL?

Just busting your chops, but really!

That's how it started with us too. Keep saying that. It is a virus! Be careful.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[G4G5]

I believe that it's the age old mgt philosophy.

F up, move up.........

Chew reports to Barger
JetBlue Buoys Ranks
With Trouble-Shooter

By a WALL STREET JOURNAL Staff Reporter
March 8, 2007; Page A2

SAN FRANCISCO -- In the wake of a public outcry over canceled flights and delays, JetBlue Airways Corp. brought in a former FAA trouble-shooter to beef up the discount carrier's leadership.
The airline said Russell Chew, fresh from four years as the Federal Aviation Administration's chief operating officer, will join the carrier March 19 with that same title.
Mr. Chew, 54 years old, will take the chief operating officer post held by JetBlue President Dave Barger since the airline's inception in August 1998.
Mr. Chew will report to Mr. Barger, 49, who will continue as president.
"Russ brings a wealth of industry and government experience that will help lead JetBlue into a new era of customer service, comfort and operational reliability," founder and Chief Executive David Neeleman said.
Prior to joining the FAA, which oversees the nation's airline industry, Mr. Chew spent 17 years with AMR Corp.'s American Airlines, including a stint as managing director of its system operations center and strategic operations planning.
JetBlue, of Forest Hills, N.Y., is shoring up its ranks after the airline kept passengers cooped up for hours on flights last month during an ice storm, resulting in numerous complaints.

 

[G4G5]

I give Neelman credit, he's not just providing lip service. He's doing what he feels necessary to fix the problem and show that this won't be tolerated in the future.

I wonder if this was DN or this was RC's doing? But when you are an LCC and you offer to continue to pay $200K to a guy just to go away, you are defiantly making a statement. Don't let the door hit you in the as..... At least they gave him 7 days notice..

JetBlue Airways Corp. (JBLU) announced Thursday that its executive vice president of supply chain and information technology, John Owen, will resign on March 14.
Owen, a former chief financial officer of the airline, has been with JetBlue since 1998.
In connection with his resignation, JetBlue and Owen entered into an agreement under which Owen will continue to be employed by the company through the end of 2008 as a senior adviser at his current annual salary of $200,000, the company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

[HomerJ]

I believe that it's the age old mgt philosophy.

F up, move up.........

Chew reports to Barger
JetBlue Buoys Ranks
With Trouble-Shooter

By a WALL STREET JOURNAL Staff Reporter
March 8, 2007; Page A2

SAN FRANCISCO -- In the wake of a public outcry over canceled flights and delays, JetBlue Airways Corp. brought in a former FAA trouble-shooter to beef up the discount carrier's leadership.
The airline said Russell Chew, fresh from four years as the Federal Aviation Administration's chief operating officer, will join the carrier March 19 with that same title.
Mr. Chew, 54 years old, will take the chief operating officer post held by JetBlue President Dave Barger since the airline's inception in August 1998.
Mr. Chew will report to Mr. Barger, 49, who will continue as president.
"Russ brings a wealth of industry and government experience that will help lead JetBlue into a new era of customer service, comfort and operational reliability," founder and Chief Executive David Neeleman said.
Prior to joining the FAA, which oversees the nation's airline industry, Mr. Chew spent 17 years with AMR Corp.'s American Airlines, including a stint as managing director of its system operations center and strategic operations planning.
JetBlue, of Forest Hills, N.Y., is shoring up its ranks after the airline kept passengers cooped up for hours on flights last month during an ice storm, resulting in numerous complaints.

Dave Barger is as smart as they come. The problem lies with David Neeleman. He is a visionary, not a day to day operations guy, and he likes to get involved way too much. If he lets Russ Chew and Dave Barger do their jobs without interference, we will be much better off...

 

[SNOWBUM]

Don't kid yourself, Chew is there to bust any unionization attempts. The honeymoon is over and the hammer is coming out. Chew is great, just ask him, he'll tell you. Maybe he can get Jim Cato from Atlas on board.

then I could see a union at JB before the ink is wet of mr cato's contract.


AA? theFAA? has neeleman lost it?lets bring Tilton and wolf too....that would be swell.

 

[Falconjet]

I don't know, it looks like those deck chairs are lining up very nicely.














Relax blue guys, its just a joke. I hope things work out ok for you and jB.

FJ

 

[G4G5]

Dave Barger is as smart as they come. The problem lies with David Neeleman. He is a visionary, not a day to day operations guy, and he likes to get involved way too much. If he lets Russ Chew and Dave Barger do their jobs without interference, we will be much better off...

Your right, this could be a case of Barger going to Neelman and saying, "we need this guy. We have grown beyond my capabilites, I need some help, let's get him".

 

[Dizel8]

AA? theFAA? has neeleman lost it?

Probably far from it, the "evil empire" appears to have a very effective sysops and who better to have dealing with the FAA than someone who has worked there. Considering the VD meltdown, this might just be what we need.

 

[lowecur]

You're trying to find a silver linging to all of the bad EMB press. How is your EMB stock doing? You used to brag about your E190 and the sales, yet all the bad press has not helped. Actually quite well, thank you. I'm up over 325% is 4 years...not bad, eh?

As far as LGA goes with DL, I think we will do just fine. All of this bad press from USAir too, with their system integration problems as of late, has really boosted our ops in NYC and around the country. Our Delta Shuttle flights have been doing a lot better too. Thanks JBU and USAir, just when we need a boost you guys help a bit. Yeah, I bet you can't wait for the open skys to EU to go into effect. Those marginal yields will probably match your domestic. Better check into Antartica next.....Oh, I forgot, penguins can't or don't fly.:laugh:

Bye Bye--General Lee

.....

imp:​

 

[General Lee]

Delta does well with INTL feed to America due to the connections, and we expect to add more flights to the EU shortly. You seem to forget that termial gates for those INTL airlines are at a premium, unless they want to serve Little Rock from Europe.

And, sell that EMB stock now....

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Fins Up]

Don't kid yourself, Chew is there to bust any unionization attempts. =

hahahahahahaha.

 

[General Lee]

And who's fault was that?...please enlighten us....


And just in case you're feeling good about JetBlue and Airways "helping you out"....take a stroll down to the Delta Connection gates at JFK and experience first hand what Ellis Island was like circa 1904.

JetBlue's gonna be just fine....and it's thanks to you guys treating people like garbage...

HAHHAHAHAHHA! Look who got all of the bad press? You guys can't get enough bad press, and try to cover it hiring Chew, who will whip you guys into shape alright! What a joke. As Jay Leno said "Jet BLEW!" Oh wait, as Conan said "Jetblue, the May to August Airline."


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[StarChecker]

That's how it started with us too. Keep saying that. It is a virus! Be careful.


Bye Bye--General Lee

And who's fault was that?...please enlighten us....


And just in case you're feeling good about JetBlue and Airways "helping you out"....take a stroll down to the Delta Connection gates at JFK and experience first hand what Ellis Island was like circa 1904.

JetBlue's gonna be just fine....and it's thanks to you guys treating people like garbage...

 

[Andy Neill]

You're trying to find a silver linging to all of the bad EMB press. How is your EMB stock doing? You used to brag about your E190 and the sales, yet all the bad press has not helped.

Bye Bye--General Lee

As a matter of fact, ERJ (Embraer stock ticker) is trading within 2% of its all time high which it hit 22 Feb. I missed your point on this one.

 

[GuinessGuy]

I also think (and hope) that this move is meaning that the company is getting a little too big for the current management and/or Neelman is now taking a back seat and letting Barger and Chew run the show.

 

[General Lee]

As a matter of fact, ERJ (Embraer stock ticker) is trading within 2% of its all time high which it hit 22 Feb. I missed your point on this one.

Well, you obviously have missed the point. Maybe you missed the fact that JBU and Air Canada have to fly planes to BNA for modifications, disrupting flights and passengers alike. The next batch ordered should be really cheap. This bad press will result in less profits for EMB, which will probably hurt the stock eventually. Sell now. I bet EMB has to pay for all of this, including the Expressjet sub-lease. But, the passengers will be questioning all of this, and may not be happy, even with a $25 voucher.


Bye Bye--General Lee