Gone In Wake Of Christmas Computer Glitch

Rocked by a massive dispatch computer failure on Christmas Eve, Comair chief Randy Rademacher resigned Monday, in order to "pursue other opportunities," according to a memo issued to Comair's 6,000 workers.

But it was clear to at least one industry expert who spoke with the Cincinnati News-Enquirer that Rademacher set himself up as the fall guy for a problem that left thousands of passengers stranded, Christmas gifts in hand, over the holiday weekend.

"I've always thought Randy was a very good executive... but when something catastrophic like this happens, there has to be some accountability," Doug Abbey, partner with The Velocity Group, a Washington, DC-based airline consulting firm, told the Ohio newspaper. "I'm sure more was done internally, but there has to be a public face to it."

Rademacher will be replaced by Fred Butrell, a 42-year old Delta executive who, at one time, ran the carrier's regional arm. Butrell told the News-Enquirer that his move from Atlanta to Cincinnati was a permanent one.

Butrell, asked whether Rademacher fell on his sword or was sacrificed in the name of the corporate good, said Rademacher "made his own decision."

Butrell admitted he's been critical of Comair -- specifically, the company's "relatively high labor costs" and its contract with union pilots. Butrell, in fact, said Comair wouldn't be getting any new jets in 2005 because its costs were so high. But, as he prepared to move from Atlanta to Cincinnati, the Delta Connection executive sounded a softer note. He said he's "ready to work on all these issues together. We need to find that solution set to create a winning growth strategy at Comair."

The man who hire Rademacher in the first place, David Siebenburgen, had words of praise for the outgoing CEO. "He should be given some high marks" for leading the regional carrier through the violent contractions suffered by the industry in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks. The former Comair president and CEO who also ran the Delta Connection network until November 2001 told the News-Enquirer, "I think Fred is a great selection to get Comair slotted in with Delta's new direction as well."

FMI: www.comair.com