Gordon Bethune
Gordon Bethune
Gordon M. Bethuneis a retired US airline executive. He was the CEO of Continental Airlines from 1994 until his retirement at the end of 2004. He currently serves on the boards of Honeywell, Sprint, Prudential Financial...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBusinessman
Date of Birth29 August 1941
CountryUnited States of America
actual break cockpit interest interested office people personally room thank time whether work
When you actually take the time to go over to somebody's office and personally thank them - whether their office is in a cockpit of an airplane, or in a break room - that's an actual manifestation of interest in them. You need to take the time to show the people around you who work for you that you're interested in them.
people
I learned that you can be successful if you get people to help you become successful.
stupid stupid-people people
We're a stupid industry led by stupid people,
girlfriend people peers
It really helps to know what success is before you get there, and if you know, then you can head right for it. For some people, it's the most money. For some, it's the most power. For some, it's the most girlfriends. Everybody's got a measure. For me, I guess it's having the respect and admiration of your peers.
people three-things vote
If you say three things in a row that make sense, people will vote for you.
thinking people tree
But I like to think that a lot of managers and executives trying to solve problems miss the forest for the trees by forgetting to look at their people -- not at how much more they can get from their people or how they can more effectively manage their people. I think they need to look a little more closely at what it's like for their people to come to work there every day.
ibm paid pay people percent rather somewhere
I'd rather have 50 people at 100 percent of their pay than 100 people at 50 percent, ... If you don't pay people what they're worth, they'll go to IBM or somewhere where they are paid what they're worth.
buying closer dominant west zero
The probabilities (of) United, the dominant carrier in the West, buying and merging with the third-biggest carrier in the West (America West) are closer to zero than they are to any other number,
ability airline approved business compete contend deal dominate fix largest prices schedules
The world's largest airline and Europe's largest carrier contend they can't compete without the ability to fix prices and schedules and dominate the world's largest business market, ... This is a deal that just should not be approved under any circumstances.
customers percent
Bookings are OK, but sometimes as many as 30 percent of the customers don't show up,
comfort cost fleet latest market next order plan providing reduce technology total
Continental now has a fleet plan that makes us competitive in every market well into the next century. This latest order will reduce our total cost while providing the latest in technology and comfort to our customers.
came march overcame poor revenue strong worked
We really worked our revenue and March came on so strong we overcame a pretty poor start,
adverse customers dedicated effect employees massive necessity regret schedule
While we regret the necessity for this massive furlough and the substantial schedule reduction, the adverse effect on our dedicated employees and customers and the communities we serve, we have ... no choice.
chicago either means states united
You know how Chicago works? You're either on United or American; that's it, ... You take what they give you at the same fare, which means the whole United States would look like Chicago.