GM to return two leased jets amid criticism
General Motors Corp(GM.N) will return two of its leased corporate jets amid intense criticism in Washington this week on the luxury travel arrangements of its chief executive even as the company pleads for federal aid.
CEO Rick Wagoner was in the capital to testify on the company's dire financial situation but his testimony was overshadowed by irate lawmakers who blasted him for flying on a private jet to ask for public funds and failing to make personal sacrifices in exchange for federal assistance.
Chief executives from Ford Motor Co(F.N), and Chrysler LLC, who were also there to plead for $25 billion in federal aid, came under fire too for flying to Washington in private jets.
GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson said on Friday GM decided to return the aircraft because of a "really aggressive cutback in travel."
The company, which is in a cost-cutting mode, is scrutinizing every trip, he said, but declined to disclose the name of the company it leases the airplanes from.
Wilkinson said the decision to return the leased corporate jets was made before this week's hearings and that the company in September returned two other of the seven jets it had at the beginning of the year.
"There is a perception issue," Wilkinson said of Wagoner's travel to Washington on a private jet. "We need to be very sensitive to that going forward."
He, however, said the company has not decided on what mode of transportation Wagoner would take if had to travel to Washington again.
Wagoner and Ford CEO Alan Mulally are required by their companies to fly by private aircraft for security reasons, according to company documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The policy for Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli is not required to be disclosed because the company is not publicly traded.
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Obviously.... Wagoner will still be using a private jet to travel to Washington.
So the media criticism is UNWARRANTED!!!!
Dumb asses.
What the media doesn't understand, large companies like GM, Ford, GE, Sony, et al. ALL HAVE PRIVATE AIRCRAFT!!! And I'm not talking about 1-2 jets either. I'm talking DOZENS.