In Their Own Words

Once you get hooked on the airline business, it's worse than dope.
- Ed Acker, PAA CEO while Chairman of Air Florida

 

 

 

 

 

These days no one can make money on the goddamn airline business. The economics represent sheer hell.
- C. R. Smith, Founder & President of American Airlines.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 A recession is when you have to tighten your belt; depression is when you have no belt to tighten. When you've lost your trousers - you're in the airline business.
- Sir Adam Thomson Founder British Caledonian Airways

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the pilots were in charge, Columbus would still be in port. They believe the assertion that the world is flat.
- Robert L. Crandall while CEO American Airlines

 

 

 

 

 

 

 If the Wright brother were alive today Wilbur would have to fire Orville to reduce costs.
- Herb Kelleher, Southwest Airlines, ' USA Today June 8 1994

 

 

 

 

 

 

If we went into the funeral business, people would stop dying.
- Martin R. Shugrue, Vice-chairman Pan Am.

 

The greatest sin of airline management of the last 22 years is to say, "It's all labor's fault."
- Donald Carty, Chairman and CEO American Airlines 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are only two reasons to sit in the back row of an airplane:
   Either you have diarrhea, or you're anxious to meet people who do..
- Henry Kissinger