But Participants Not Forthcoming On What Was Discussed
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (pictured) on Monday called together
a summit of five aviation executives whose operations have impact
on the economy of The Windy City. While no specific outcomes were
discussed afterward by those present, all praised the mayor for his
appreciation for the importance of the aviation industry, and
deemed the gathering productive.
The meeting included Jeff Smisek, president and CEO of United
Airlines, and Bob Reding, executive VP of operations for American
Airlines. Both use O'Hare International as a hub. Jim McNerney,
chairman, president and CEO of Boeing was also there. Boeing's
corporate headquarters is in Chicago, and the company employs about
500 people in the area.
David Storch, CEO of AAR, a provider of maintenance, repair and
overhaul services to the airline industry based in the Chicago
suburb of Wood Dale, Illinois, was there, as was Ron Ricks,
executive VP of Southwest Airlines. Southwest has a major presence
at Chicago Midway Airport.
The meeting is reported to have lasted about an hour, and
observers suggest the agenda may have included the role of airlines
in funding airport improvements, the possible privatization of
Midway, and other potentially contentious issues. None of the execs
spoke to the media afterward, but a few have issued official
statements.
American's Reding commented, "The meeting resulted in a very
productive exchange of viewpoints. The emphasis was on identifying
the areas in which there are the greatest opportunities for
cooperation and success. We are enthusiastic about the positive
view the Mayor and his team have about the importance of aviation
to the Chicago economy and his clear personal interest in working
as partners going forward."
AAR’s Storch added, “The session was an excellent
opportunity for aviation businesses with operations in the Chicago
area to share common challenges and explore ways to advance
aviation as a part of the City’s growth agenda.”
AAR notes the discussion focused largely on cooperation between
private sector companies and the City for the purposes of job
creation, economic growth, job training and education, including
direct partnerships with educational institutions to achieve these
goals. Mayor Emmanuel observed, “The aviation industry is
crucial to Chicago’s economic future. Our leadership in this
space is dependent upon strong cooperation between the City and the
leading aviation companies, and we are committed to growing these
relationships and working together to increase local educational
and job training opportunities.”
The Chicago Sun Times reports the meeting was originally
suggested by Smisek. WLS-TV reports all of the companies in
attendance pledged to explore expanding job training programs in
Chicago.
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