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United Airlines chief to step down amid federal investigation - The
Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/united-airlines-chief-to-step-down-amid-federal-investigation/2015/09/08/de44c496-566c-11e5-abe9-27d53f250b11_story.html

United Airlines chief to step down amid federal investigation

United Airlines chairman and chief executive Jeff Smisek and two other top
executives have resigned amid a federal investigation, the company said
Tuesday, pointing to a major shake-up at the head of America’s
third-largest airline.

The Chicago-based airline said the resignations were connected to a federal
probe exploring whether the airline had established a money-losing flight
from Newark to Columbia, South Carolina, to benefit the influential former
chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, who owned a
nearby vacation home.

United was seeking big improvements to Newark Liberty International
Airport, which the Port Authority runs, around the time the airline
launched the direct flight from Newark to Columbia.

The twice-weekly flight began shortly after David Samson became chairman of
the Port Authority, which operates all New York and New Jersey airports,
and was canceled days after Samson resigned from the post last year.

United Continental Holdings, which owns the airline, said earlier this year
that a federal grand jury had subpoenaed the company and its executives
amid the investigation.

The company said Tuesday it is still cooperating with that ongoing
investigation and conducting its own internal investigation.

United said Nene Foxhall, executive vice president for communications and
government affairs, and Mark R. Anderson, senior vice president for
corporate and government affairs, have also stepped down.

Oscar Munoz, the chief operating officer of railroad giant CSX, will
succeed Smisek as chief executive, the airline said.


Eric D. Schwerin
eschwerin@rosemontseneca.com

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