Bedford inserts foot into mouth
#1
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Posts: 132
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
He's probably right, but it's not the greatest thing to put out there for the press to pounce on..
Also, btw, this story lead the newscast just now on the noon news on the local NBC station. They focused on the bold quotes below..
Also, btw, this story lead the newscast just now on the noon news on the local NBC station. They focused on the bold quotes below..
Airline exec questions Milwaukee as destinationRepublic’s Bedford says city not leisure market
The Business Journal of Milwaukee - by Rich Rovito
The top executive of Republic Airways Holdings Inc., which purchased Midwest Airlines earlier this year, offered some disparaging comments concerning Milwaukee as a travel destination during a recent presentation to investors and industry analysts.
“Milwaukee is not a destination market by price. I don’t care how cheap you make it, you don’t go there unless you have to,” Republic chief executive officer Bryan Bedford said at the Next Generation Equity Research Airlines Conference in New York City Dec. 9.
The comments drew laughter from the audience, but Milwaukee business and travel leaders didn’t find much humor in Bedford’s assessment.
Bedford also told analysts that Milwaukee-area travelers are willing to pay more to book a flight on Oak Creek-based Midwest Airlines, which Republic purchased in July for $31 million.
“We have 1.1 million frequent fliers in Milwaukee and they will pay a premium to fly on Midwest,” he said. “They love that cookie.”
Bedford’s comments referred to the baked-on-board chocolate chip cookies that long have been a symbol of Midwest, an airline that historically has catered to business travelers and at one time offered unique amenities such as free wine, champagne and gourmet meals before drastically reducing such offerings in recent years.
Bedford also spoke of Indianapolis-based Republic’s transformation of Midwest into a “virtual airline” with no airline certificate, and no Midwest-owned or leased aircraft, unions or pension.
“All that stuff is gone,” Bedford said. “It’s simply Midwest branding operated by Republic.”
The Milwaukee-area tourism economy in 2009 is projected to be about $2.7 billion, according to Visit Milwaukee, the city’s visitors and convention bureau. About 30 percent of that total is derived from leisure travel, Visit Milwaukee spokesman Dave Fantle said.
“People are making conscious decisions to visit the Milwaukee area,” Fantle said. “We’re a great surprise destination. We have a high ‘wow’ factor.”
Fantle offered to take Bedford on a “familiarization” tour of the Milwaukee area so that he could view local attractions.
“Once Mr. Bedford has had an opportunity to spend more time here, I’m sure he’ll be a new advocate for the city,” Fantle said.
Midwest spokesman Jim Reichart pointed out that Bedford made the comments in the context of a much broader presentation about Republic’s operations.
“You have to consider the environment and the audience. You speak a little bit differently to that crowd,” Reichart said. “This was not at all a commentary about Milwaukee’s importance as a leisure destination.”
The Milwaukee area attracts more leisure travelers in warmer months, but air travel to the area for the rest of the year tends to be limited mainly to business and personal purposes, Reichart said.
Milwaukee tends to mainly attract business travelers, a segment on which Midwest built its business, Republic spokesman Carlo Bertolini said.
“Milwaukee isn’t Las Vegas or Orlando,” he said. “It’s not an insult, it’s just a different traffic pattern. The bulk of the traffic in Milwaukee isn’t leisure.”
Business travel remains the “bread and butter” of Midwest’s business, Bertolini said.
Lower fares often don’t stimulate ticket purchases for business travel like they do for leisure purposes, meaning many Midwest customers pay higher prices, Bertolini said.
“Business travel happens when business needs to be done,” he said
The Business Journal of Milwaukee - by Rich Rovito
The top executive of Republic Airways Holdings Inc., which purchased Midwest Airlines earlier this year, offered some disparaging comments concerning Milwaukee as a travel destination during a recent presentation to investors and industry analysts.
“Milwaukee is not a destination market by price. I don’t care how cheap you make it, you don’t go there unless you have to,” Republic chief executive officer Bryan Bedford said at the Next Generation Equity Research Airlines Conference in New York City Dec. 9.
The comments drew laughter from the audience, but Milwaukee business and travel leaders didn’t find much humor in Bedford’s assessment.
Bedford also told analysts that Milwaukee-area travelers are willing to pay more to book a flight on Oak Creek-based Midwest Airlines, which Republic purchased in July for $31 million.
“We have 1.1 million frequent fliers in Milwaukee and they will pay a premium to fly on Midwest,” he said. “They love that cookie.”
Bedford’s comments referred to the baked-on-board chocolate chip cookies that long have been a symbol of Midwest, an airline that historically has catered to business travelers and at one time offered unique amenities such as free wine, champagne and gourmet meals before drastically reducing such offerings in recent years.
Bedford also spoke of Indianapolis-based Republic’s transformation of Midwest into a “virtual airline” with no airline certificate, and no Midwest-owned or leased aircraft, unions or pension.
“All that stuff is gone,” Bedford said. “It’s simply Midwest branding operated by Republic.”
The Milwaukee-area tourism economy in 2009 is projected to be about $2.7 billion, according to Visit Milwaukee, the city’s visitors and convention bureau. About 30 percent of that total is derived from leisure travel, Visit Milwaukee spokesman Dave Fantle said.
“People are making conscious decisions to visit the Milwaukee area,” Fantle said. “We’re a great surprise destination. We have a high ‘wow’ factor.”
Fantle offered to take Bedford on a “familiarization” tour of the Milwaukee area so that he could view local attractions.
“Once Mr. Bedford has had an opportunity to spend more time here, I’m sure he’ll be a new advocate for the city,” Fantle said.
Midwest spokesman Jim Reichart pointed out that Bedford made the comments in the context of a much broader presentation about Republic’s operations.
“You have to consider the environment and the audience. You speak a little bit differently to that crowd,” Reichart said. “This was not at all a commentary about Milwaukee’s importance as a leisure destination.”
The Milwaukee area attracts more leisure travelers in warmer months, but air travel to the area for the rest of the year tends to be limited mainly to business and personal purposes, Reichart said.
Milwaukee tends to mainly attract business travelers, a segment on which Midwest built its business, Republic spokesman Carlo Bertolini said.
“Milwaukee isn’t Las Vegas or Orlando,” he said. “It’s not an insult, it’s just a different traffic pattern. The bulk of the traffic in Milwaukee isn’t leisure.”
Business travel remains the “bread and butter” of Midwest’s business, Bertolini said.
Lower fares often don’t stimulate ticket purchases for business travel like they do for leisure purposes, meaning many Midwest customers pay higher prices, Bertolini said.
“Business travel happens when business needs to be done,” he said
![b82rez is offline](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
![](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/clear.gif)
#2
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Another move made by this wonderful man is that Republic is now sending out letters to furloughed Midwest employees giving us 90 days before our non-rev travel benefits end. What a nice Christmas present from this scum bag. How about some of our Republic pilots coming to our rescue. Get off your duffs and do something. Anything.
![Dirty Rat is offline](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Posts: 132
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Another move made by this wonderful man is that Republic is now sending out letters to furloughed Midwest employees giving us 90 days before our non-rev travel benefits end. What a nice Christmas present from this scum bag. How about some of our Republic pilots coming to our rescue. Get off your duffs and do something. Anything.
God forbid that Bedford lets us keep our pass benefits at least until the SLI is done in May. What a prick.
Edit: ALPA boards are saying it's 90 days from furlough or 12/31/09. Nothing like getting less than 2 weeks notice for benefits termination.
Last edited by b82rez; 12-18-2009 at 10:58 AM.
![b82rez is offline](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#4
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Still trying to get a verification on this but it looks like another violation of our contract. Not surprising. This group has ignored every aspect of our contract.
![Dirty Rat is offline](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#5
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
It is instructive to see him refer to those who made MEH what it WAS as so much rotting garbage that needed to be jettisoned so that he can continue to dominate his minions.
As long as there is a line of people willing to be taken advantage of in order to work in this industry sweatshop he will continue to provide value to the shareholders. Methinks he is in over his head though.
How repulsive.
Merry X-mas everyone.
As long as there is a line of people willing to be taken advantage of in order to work in this industry sweatshop he will continue to provide value to the shareholders. Methinks he is in over his head though.
How repulsive.
Merry X-mas everyone.
Last edited by IC ALL; 12-18-2009 at 11:19 AM. Reason: tos
![YXnot is offline](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2009
Position: Furloughed
Posts: 281
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
It is instructive to see him refer to those who made MEH what it WAS as so much rotting garbage that needed to be jettisoned so that he can continue to dominate his minions.
As long as there is a line of people willing to be taken advantage of in order to work in this industry sweatshop he will continue to provide value to the shareholders. Methinks he is in over his head though.
How repulsive.
Merry X-mas everyone.[/quote]
He doesn't know what he's gotten himself into. Up until now he's just had to provide the cheapest product possible and someone else worries about filling the planes.
Now he's showing that he has absolutely no clue what he's doing and he's playing with the big boys in a market he doesn't understand and is completely outclassed within. The other airlines are going to eat him for lunch...
As long as there is a line of people willing to be taken advantage of in order to work in this industry sweatshop he will continue to provide value to the shareholders. Methinks he is in over his head though.
How repulsive.
Merry X-mas everyone.[/quote]
He doesn't know what he's gotten himself into. Up until now he's just had to provide the cheapest product possible and someone else worries about filling the planes.
Now he's showing that he has absolutely no clue what he's doing and he's playing with the big boys in a market he doesn't understand and is completely outclassed within. The other airlines are going to eat him for lunch...
Last edited by IC ALL; 12-18-2009 at 11:19 AM. Reason: tos
![yamahas3 is offline](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#7
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
It is instructive to see him refer to those who made MEH what it WAS as so much rotting garbage that needed to be jettisoned so that he can continue to dominate his minions.
As long as there is a line of people willing to be taken advantage of in order to work in this industry sweatshop he will continue to provide value to the shareholders. Methinks he is in over his head though.
How repulsive.
Merry X-mas everyone.
As long as there is a line of people willing to be taken advantage of in order to work in this industry sweatshop he will continue to provide value to the shareholders. Methinks he is in over his head though.
How repulsive.
Merry X-mas everyone.
He doesn't know what he's gotten himself into. Up until now he's just had to provide the cheapest product possible and someone else worries about filling the planes.
Now he's showing that he has absolutely no clue what he's doing and he's playing with the big boys in a market he doesn't understand and is completely outclassed within. The other airlines are going to eat him for lunch...[/quote]
Sit back and enjoy the show.
Al
![alvrb211 is offline](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#8
Line Holder
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Posts: 85
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
So how exactly did he put his foot in his mouth? Milwaukee sucks and most people don't go there to vacation under the gray skies and cold weather.
![Flatspin is offline](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#9
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Guys if you think the forum is to censored then take a minute and email the site owners or other mods. PM HSLD and voice your concerns, I have.
There's nothing wrong with speaking up.
There's nothing wrong with speaking up.
Last edited by Superpilot92; 12-18-2009 at 12:31 PM.
![Superpilot92 is offline](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post