Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Flying the Not-So-Friendly Skies: Chrysler asks court to cancel corporate jet leases]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/14/flying-the-not-so-friendly-skies-chrysler-asks-court-to-cancel/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/14/flying-the-not-so-friendly-skies-chrysler-asks-court-to-cancel/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/14/flying-the-not-so-friendly-skies-chrysler-asks-court-to-cancel/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Late last year, Rick Wagoner, Bob Nardelli and Alan Mulally each climbed aboard their own company-provided private jets in lieu of commercial flight - or, alternatively, one of their company's own vehicles - to go before Congress and ask for a bailout. In the public eye, at least, that move was - to put it mildly - a mistake.

At least one chapter of the so-called JetGate scandal now appears set to come to a close. Chrysler has reportedly asked its bankruptcy judge to terminate the leases the automaker holds on its $38 million Gulfstream 450 and $55 million Gulfstream 550. Chrysler first leased the jets back in 2007 and subsequently took delivery on January 1, 2008.

A hearing on the issue has been set for June 3, but we wouldn't expect there to be any real holdup. After all, the debtor-in-possession financing that Chrysler received from the U.S. and Canadian governments stipulated that the automaker would give up all corporate aircraft.

[Source: Detroit News | Image: Gulfstream]

Flying the Not-So-Friendly Skies: Chrysler asks court to cancel corporate jet leases originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 May 2009 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chryslerchrysler corporate aircraftchrysler private jetsChryslerCorporateAircraftChryslerPrivateJetscompany jetCompanyJetgulfstreamjetgateprivate jetprivate jetsPrivateJetPrivateJetsThu, 14 May 2009 11:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Detroit 3 JetGate fallout puts hurt on private jet industry]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/17/detroit-3-jetgate-fallout-puts-hurt-on-private-jet-industry/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/17/detroit-3-jetgate-fallout-puts-hurt-on-private-jet-industry/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/17/detroit-3-jetgate-fallout-puts-hurt-on-private-jet-industry/#commentsFiled under:



Many insiders in the general aviation industry are pondering whether the fateful trip of three CEOs from Detroit to Washington late last year will sound the death knell for private jet travel. Jim Schuster, chief executive of Hawker Beechcraft, says in regards to that trip, "I sat back in my chair and put my hands over my eyes and said, 'Oh, why did they do that? It was terrible, terrible judgment on their part, but I don't think they stopped to think for a minute that people were going to react this way."

Even before the public outrage directed towards Rick Wagoner, Bob Nardelli and Alan Mulally and their flight to visit Congress hoping for a bailout, the sinking global economy was hurting the sales of business aicraft; but afterwards, the industry really tanked, which is a shame. There really are instances when business jet travel makes plenty of sense, such as when traveling to a small market that's not served by commercial airlines or when shuttling dozens of people at a time. The trick, apparently, is knowing when to use private jets and when to leave them docked at the airport - a trick that some execs had obviously failed to learn.

[Source: New York Times]

Detroit 3 JetGate fallout puts hurt on private jet industry originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airlineairline industryAirlineIndustryairlinesgeneral aviationGeneralAviationprivate jetprivate jetsprivate planeprivate planesPrivateJetPrivateJetsPrivatePlanePrivatePlanesTue, 17 Feb 2009 16:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Grounded: GM cancels all corporate jet service]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/02/grounded-gm-cancels-all-corporate-jet-service/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/02/grounded-gm-cancels-all-corporate-jet-service/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/02/grounded-gm-cancels-all-corporate-jet-service/#commentsFiled under: ,



General Motors has an early New Years Resolution: to be more fiscally responsible when it comes to corporate travel. With six short, direct sentences (see official press release after the jump), GM has declared that its Corporate Aviation Operations are to be shuttered. It might not seem like a big deal on the surface, but there are apparently numerous contractual agreements that need to be reworked to make this a reality. First, the jets themselves need to be returned, sold or transferred to another operator. Next, after January 1st when The General pulls out, the leased facility and grounds at Detroit Metro Airport will be emptied and GM will work with airport officials to find another tenant.

Although GM suggests that the termination of its Aviation Operations is because its travel volume no longer requires its own dedicated corporate service, we're pretty sure that the ribbing Wagoner and his peers took at the hands of Congress over private jet flight had plenty to do with the decision. Expect the announcement to be part of GM's Congress-bound business plan when it's officially announced this week.

[Source: GM]

Continue reading Grounded: GM cancels all corporate jet service

Grounded: GM cancels all corporate jet service originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>corporate aviation operationsCorporateAviationOperationsgmgm aviation operationsgm corporate jetsgm private jetgm private jetsGmAviationOperationsGmCorporateJetsGmPrivateJetGmPrivateJetsprivate jetprivate jet travelprivate jetsPrivateJetPrivateJetsPrivateJetTravelTue, 02 Dec 2008 14:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Detroit supplier organizing March of Green Vehicles to Washington]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/26/detroit-supplier-organizing-march-of-green-vehicles-to-washingto/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/26/detroit-supplier-organizing-march-of-green-vehicles-to-washingto/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/26/detroit-supplier-organizing-march-of-green-vehicles-to-washingto/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Bad idea: Detroit 3 CEOs showing up for a Congressional hearing to beg for money in private jets. Good idea: said CEOs showing up at Congress' curb in their respective company's greenest vehicles. Just such a caravan has been proposed by Tim Leuliette, CEO of supplier Dura Automotive Systems Inc., and it's gaining steam. The idea is to highlight how integral the Detroit automakers are to the lives of many who work outside the companies themselves, and to showcase their latest fuel efficient models.

Expect the march to Washington to remain a grassroots effort. Each of the Detroit 3's spokespeople have commented that they are in support of the plan but are not interested in organizing it. It is also highly unlikely that any Detroit 3 CEO would travel to D.C. in the motorcade, as well. To be as effective as possible, some are suggesting that the organizers create a central website with information for those who want to participate like where they should go and when they should be there. Now, if Bob Lutz lead the procession in a Volt mule, that'd send a message. Do it, Bob!

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Detroit supplier organizing March of Green Vehicles to Washington originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>caravanceo private jetCeoPrivateJetmarch of green vehiclesMarchOfGreenVehiclesprivate jetprivate jet travelprivate jetsPrivateJetPrivateJetsPrivateJetTravelWed, 26 Nov 2008 08:58:00 EST