This Houston Business Journal article is reporting that former Continental Airlines CEO Gordon Bethune is leading one of the investor consortiums that the United Airlines’ Creditors’ Committee is touting as one of the groups that is interested in investing in a plan of reorganization in United’s chapter 11 case. Mr. Bethune stepped down as Continental’s CEO this past December 31, and is widely credited with managing Continental in a manner that avoided a third chapter 11 case for the Houston-based airline.
It’s yet another reflection of the abysmal nature of the airline business that a CEO’s success in that business is defined by whether he can manage around a chapter 11 filing.