Resigned: Comair Chief Randy Rademacher | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.21.25

Airborne-Unlimited-07.22.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.23.25

Airborne-Unlimited-07.24.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.25.25

Tue, Jan 18, 2005

Resigned: Comair Chief Randy Rademacher

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

Advertisement

More News

Airborne 07.18.25: Will MOSAIC Be Announced Tuesday???, 12 Hot News Items

Also: DeltaHawk, Piper, Hartzell, High Flying Models & Bob Hoover Legacy, SUN n FUN26 and Affordable Flying Expo 2025 -- and MUCH More. In an exclusive interview earlier this m>[...]

Airborne-Flight Training 07.10.25: ATC School, Air Race Classic, Samson School

Also: Sully v Bedford, Embraer Scholarships, NORAD Intercepts 11, GAMA Thankful Middle Georgia State University will be joining the Federal Aviation Administration’s fight ag>[...]

Airborne 07.18.25: Will MOSAIC Be Announced Tuesday???, 12 Hot News Items

Also: DeltaHawk, Piper, Hartzell, High Flying Models & Bob Hoover Legacy, SUN n FUN26 and Affordable Flying Expo 2025 -- and MUCH More. In an exclusive interview earlier this m>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.16.25)

Aero Linx: Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association (MSPA) We are the Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association (MSPA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering sea>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (07.16.25): Preferred IFR Routes

Preferred IFR Routes Routes established between busier airports to increase system efficiency and capacity. They normally extend through one or more ARTCC areas and are designed to>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC