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.