United Airlines CEO Says Aviation Industry Needs Changing

Image: PHOTO: Oscar Munoz, United Airlines president and CEO. (photo via United Airlines)
Image: PHOTO: Oscar Munoz, United Airlines president and CEO. (photo via United Airlines)
Donald Wood
by Donald Wood
Last updated: 10:21 AM ET, Tue April 23, 2019

In a recent interview, United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz answered several questions burning in the hearts and minds of frustrated travelers.

Whether the answers were enough to satisfy the complaints is still up for debate, though.

According to ABCNews.com, Munoz said airlines across the United States are reaching a breaking point when it comes to the sizes of the seats on their planes. He admitted that at some point, passengers would begin to fight back against the changes by flying with other carriers with bigger seats.

Another issue that was raised during the interview was with Wi-Fi, specifically why it worked so inconsistently. Munoz told ABC News senior transportation correspondent David Kerley the technology is complicated and United is working to find the right provider to remedy the issues experienced by passengers.

When asked about the culture of the airline industry changing, Munoz spoke about how the experience used to be one of excitement for travelers as they embarked on an adventure, but now it has become a burden that many travelers no longer enjoy.

"It's become so stressful," Munoz told ABC News. "From when you leave, wherever you live, to get into traffic, to find a parking spot, to get through security."

"Frankly, by the time you sit on one of our aircraft ... you're just pissed at the world," Munoz continued. "Improving the flying experience won't ultimately depend on what coffee or cookie I give you."


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