Virgin USA CEO will be from US Airline

[lowecur]

Jetblue better watch Barger. Also, it looks like ERJ might be in the running for some of the plane orders.

UPDATE - Virgin set to grab Virgin USA CEO from US airline
Thursday February 12, 12:49 pm ET
By Jason Neely, European Aerospace & Airlines Correspondent


LONDON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Richard Branson's Virgin Group said on Thursday it is set to choose a chief executive for its planned U.S. low-fares unit from a shortlist of three U.S. airline executives.


The announcement is imminent as the group's board agreed in principle at a meeting in London on Wednesday to go ahead with the airline, a spokesman said.

"We reckon that the chief executive announcement will be about the 23rd of February, when an individual is prepared to let his name go into the frame," he said.

He said three U.S. airline executives had been shortlisted, including current chief executives.

"For our side of the equation we have signed up the finance now," he said, regarding progress in plans to launch a U.S. low-fares unit to start operations in the first quarter of 2005.

The company is hunting for U.S. investors to buy 51 percent of the new airline and for an airport to use as its headquarters.

Under U.S. laws, Virgin Group would be allowed to own up to 49 percent of the venture, which would compete with discount carriers Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV - News) and JetBlue Airways Corp (NasdaqNM:JBLU - News).

Branson has said other investors would fund most of the start-up costs of around $300 million.

The spokesman said Virgin was speaking to three plane manufacturers about planes, a decision Branson said in Decenber was imminent.

 

[a320drivr]

I agree about the Barger comment. He currently has no contract. If the compensation package is right, I could see him leaving JB.
God, I hope not.

 

[dlredline]

My guess it's the regional pilot's anti-christ, Jonathan Ornstein out of Mesa. He and Branson are still friends, and this sounds right up his alley.

Red

 

[Skank]

I, for one, would give my profit sharing to keep Dave around.

 

[J32driver]

J.O. huh... well lets see, the MESA pilots had to sell thier soul to put an end to his whipsawing with Freedom. Now that J.O. doesn't have anymore whipsawing leverage its probably about time to leave before the MESA pilot's get a fair crack at him in the next round of negotiations.

... Yeah... J.O. is probably a pretty good guess... MUTHA F*CKING C*CK S*CKER.

Thats a d*mned crying shame. I was interested in trying to get in on the ground floor of Virgin USA, but I will not work for Orenstein.

 

[SWA/FO]

Chill dude,

nobody knows if its J.O. yet? You might still be able to get in on the ground floor.

 

[General Lee]

Fred Reid from Delta?

 

[IB6 UB9]

General Lee?

 

[~~~^~~~]

Fred Reid has credibility in Europe from his Lufthansa days. He also mentioned that Branson had made offers on some of his executives that were much more than Delta was paying when he justified securing the executives benefits last year.

General - I agree with what you put together.

 

[F70pilot]

Gordon Bethune is available.

 

[FDJ2]

Barger would make the most sense. He has done a great job with JBLU and brings a great deal of credibility to a start up venture, credibility that the capital markets and venture capitalists will be looking for. As far as Fred Reid, Leo Mullin or Gordon Bethune go, I don't think they have the "start-up" experience that Barger brings to the table. I also find it interesting that Barger hasn't signed a contract with JBLU. What's that all about?

 

[justApilot]

Don Carty could certainly ruin another airline!!!!!!!!!

 

[General Lee]

IB6UB9,

You want me to be the head of Virgin America? Thanks. First off, I would buy all of USAir's slots at LGA (including the Shuttle). Then I would try to buy some cheap Russian aircraft---like the Tupelov 204 (757 wannabe)---and find as many furloughed pilots out there and give them the job. Then, before they got too comfortable---I would tell them they have to take an initial 40% pay cut from what they signed up for---since we need to compete. If they refuse, they are fired. Then, with the morale down, I would tell them that we were going to EXPAND---with lots and lots of new routes out of LGA---unfortunately I would make them reverse allnighters to the West Coast---with two stops enroute each--due to the lack of authority to fly nonstop from LGA to the West Coast, and because the range of the 204 $ucks. When they arrived in SFO, LAX, SMF, SCK (stockton), FAT, PSP, and EUG (why not--Eugene to NY market may be HUGE)---they would get a reduced rest overnight (arriving at 2 or 3 am and leaving 8 hours later) so they could be back at LGA by dinner time (even though they have to take the subway home to Yonkers(FO's) or Staten Island for the Capts $$$) I think they would love it. And, I also think they should have checkrides every 3 months, with line checks every 6 weeks.........And I would have a huge penthouse at the Trump tower........

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[mar]

It would never work!

C'mon General, that would never work!

You know as well as I do, there are no *virgins* in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno, Stockton or Palm Springs.

Maybe Eugene...

...you may be on to something there.

So long.

 

[blzr]

Dave Siegel has been bailing water out of his canoe for two years and his arms are tired. He's my pic as new Branson CEO because I don't see him going down with the ship when Airways goes under.

 

[RichardFitzwell]

I hope its Stephen Wolf.

 

[Hutcha]

I hope its Stephen Wolf.

I saw Wolf on a shuttle flight to LGA the day before Branson was interviewing the finalist in New York.

 

[blzr]

I didn't think about that one. Hiring Wolff would be a great strategy put in place by U.S. Carriers. He would be able to bankrupt Branson too. Then the playing field would be level again, or he would scare all the European Airlines out of the U.S. Market.

Excellent

 

[jtf]

Gooooooo Wolf! That'll learn them dern Limey's to come start an airline in the US of A. I guess he still has one more strike before he's out.

 

[GogglesPisano]

IB6UB9,

You want me to be the head of Virgin America? Thanks. First off, I would buy all of USAir's slots at LGA (including the Shuttle). Then I would try to buy some cheap Russian aircraft---like the Tupelov 204 (757 wannabe)---and find as many furloughed pilots out there and give them the job. Then, before they got too comfortable---I would tell them they have to take an initial 40% pay cut from what they signed up for---since we need to compete. If they refuse, they are fired. Then, with the morale down, I would tell them that we were going to EXPAND---with lots and lots of new routes out of LGA---unfortunately I would make them reverse allnighters to the West Coast---with two stops enroute each--due to the lack of authority to fly nonstop from LGA to the West Coast, and because the range of the 204 $ucks. When they arrived in SFO, LAX, SMF, SCK (stockton), FAT, PSP, and EUG (why not--Eugene to NY market may be HUGE)---they would get a reduced rest overnight (arriving at 2 or 3 am and leaving 8 hours later) so they could be back at LGA by dinner time (even though they have to take the subway home to Yonkers(FO's) or Staten Island for the Capts $$$) I think they would love it. And, I also think they should have checkrides every 3 months, with line checks every 6 weeks.........And I would have a huge penthouse at the Trump tower........

Bye Bye--General Lee

Now THAT is a funny post.