Tag Archives for robert isom.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom says the airline has caught up at selling first class upgrades instead of giving them away. That may be good merchandising, but it guts the core value of elite status: if American will sell the seat for $40, the customer spending tens of thousands chasing upgrades is being told exactly where they stand.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom used an internal employee meeting to lay out a real shift in priorities. After years of chasing lower costs and more seats, American is now telling employees the way out is revenue: better customer experience, more premium demand, network growth, and a stronger AAdvantage program.
Robert Isom addressed the airline deal rumors employees were already talking about internally: United, Alaska and Spirit. United is a hard no, Alaska is the partnership American wants to expand, and Spirit is not a fit — though American would consider assets and stranded passengers.
American Airlines current CEO Robert Isom and former CEO Doug Parker were reportedly on the same Paris-to-DFW flight Sunday, returning with family and “Gucci shopping bags in hand” — while Isom is currently embattled over the carrier’s poor financial performance.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom just gave investors an unusually direct promise about AAdvantage: he said the airline intends to keep its miles more valuable for travel than competing programs. That matters because loyalty is American’s biggest profit engine, and Isom is effectively arguing that the airline will grow credit card revenue by making AAdvantage more attractive to customers — not by gutting redemption value.
American Airlines is making bold moves, from new premium cabins and better meals to rolling back unpopular policies, yet CEO Robert Isom struggles to clearly articulate a vision—leaving employees, customers, and investors unsure of what exactly the airline aims to become.
A Yale business school dean just penned an extraordinary defense of American Airlines CEO Robert Isom, praising him as “beloved” and “resilient,” while blaming Boeing and bad weather for poor profits and operational meltdowns—but literally none of his claims withstand scrutiny. I go line-by-line.
After American Airlines flight attendants called for CEO Robert Isom’s removal—and pilots demanded accountability for lagging financial results—Isom recorded a video response promising improvements in operations, profitability, and customer experience. But insiders say he “sounds nervous,” raising doubts about whether the airline’s turnaround plan is strong enough to quell the union revolt.
American Airlines pilots declared “no confidence” in the airline’s management and requested a meeting with the board over financial and operational struggles—but the board declined, sending them right back to the executives they criticized.
Speculation about American Airlines CEO Robert Isom’s future has reached fever pitch at the airline’s headquarters, distracting employees as rumors swirl about possible replacements. With unions demanding change and recent operational failures shaking confidence, the conversation inside American Airlines isn’t about whether Isom will go—but who might be next in the top seat.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
