Passengers were stuck because United Airlines canceled their flights. The CEO took a private plane

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby issued an apology on Friday after using a private plane to leave the New York area earlier this week while thousands of United passengers were left stranded due to flight cancellations. Kirby acknowledged the inconvenience caused to customers and expressed his commitment to improving the airline’s services.

Kirby took the private flight from Teterboro, New Jersey, to Denver on Wednesday, a day when United had to cancel 750 flights, accounting for a quarter of its daily schedule. The airline has faced significant disruptions, including the cancellation of nearly 3,000 flights throughout the week, primarily at its Newark Liberty International Airport hub due to severe weather conditions.

Kirby attributed the disruptions in Newark to a shortage of Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers, stating that the FAA’s actions had adversely affected United’s operations. As the airline continued to face challenges, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who oversees the FAA, highlighted United’s struggles compared to other carriers on social media.

Although United’s performance improved later in the week, with a decrease in the percentage of canceled flights, the airline was still on track to have the highest number of cancellations among U.S. carriers for the seventh consecutive day. United has committed to resolving its operational issues ahead of the busy July 4 holiday weekend.

Passengers affected by the flight cancellations have expressed their frustrations on social media and to the media, sharing stories of long lines and having to sleep in airports. Pilot and flight attendant unions have also criticized United’s management, citing inadequate planning, insufficient crew scheduling, and excessive flight operations.

United clarified that it did not cover the cost of Kirby’s private flight on Wednesday and did not disclose whether he frequently utilizes private planes.

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