After two months of embarrassing incidents and public relations gaffes, United Airlines executives - including CEO Oscar Munoz - faced apprehensive investors inside its annual shareholder meeting and unhappy contract employees outside.
Between the viral video of the forcible removal of a passenger who declined to be involuntarily bumped; the death of a rabbit on a flight; and prohibiting a young girl from boarding due to her leggings, among other incidents, Munoz was asked about the issues.
According to multiple reports, he was both praised for ultimately taking responsibility for the awful episode in which 69-year old Dr. David Dao was violently taken off a flight, and questioned about the same incident.
In an answer he hoped would appease both sides, Munoz said:
''I don't ever want that issue to be gone and behind us. It always has to be a constant reminder of what we can do better on.''
[READMORE]READ MORE: Legislation Introduced In Wake Of United Incident [/READMORE]
Munoz called the series of incidents a "setback," but hours after the shareholder meeting on Wednesday the market closed and shares of United Continental Holdings hit a 52-week high of $79.73.
"We will re-double our efforts to be more customer-focused in everything we do," Munoz told shareholders.
In the meantime, it was a less pleasant scene on the streets of Chicago at United's headquarters as a group of baggage workers, cleaners, food handlers and other employees who work for companies contracted by United protested over their wages.
Some ended up being arrested after the protest spilled into the street and blocked traffic.
"Those are not my companies. I cannot compel them (to change their pay practices)," Munoz said.
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