The flight was nicknamed “the chairman’s flight”, according to reports.

A number of political operatives in New Hampshire said Wednesday that unless something comes to light to directly link Christie to wrongdoing at the Port Authority, the latest turn is unlikely to play a role in the campaign.

Ed Pizzarello, who writes a blog on BoardingArea.com, said such operational problems and poor service have caused him to fly less on United this year. United alleged that since 2004, the Port Authority has diverted greater than $2 billion from the New York space airports to non-airport makes use of akin to fixing native highways and bridges.

With the federal probe underway, United carried out its personal investigation. But that is surprisingly unusual in the top ranks of airline executives. But investigators have yet to say whether the dinner at Novitá, detailed in April by Bloomberg News, has figured into their investigation. Although most believe Mr Christie’s claim that he “had no knowledge of involvement in the planning or execution of this act”, Bridgegate has been hard for the governor to shake. Oscar Munoz, a former railroad executive, who helped overhaul CSX into an admired rail company, will become United’s new chief executive.

“Even though he’s not an airline guy, he understands the business and he understands the company”, Harteveldt said.

But Smisek’s celebration would be short lived.

When Samson was in charge at the Port Authority, United resumed direct flights to the South Carolina airport near his vacation home.

The airline is experiencing one of its toughest runs in the business.

At the time, lawyers close to the case predicted this would lead to the resignation of Smisek and possibly other executives, in the hopes that the airline itself could avoid prosecution. In early 2015, it canceled large numbers of flights on its United Express regional brand, which is operated by other carriers. But the circumstantial evidence is pretty strong that the Newark-Columbia non-stop wasn’t your run-of-the-mill flight. Munoz, himself an industry outsider, now can handpick United’s new CFO, considering John Rainey left United last month for PayPal, according to Cowen & Co.

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA issued a statement welcoming Munoz and “new leadership and a new direction that recognizes the value of frontline workers and the full potential of our airline”.

United said Smisek could not be reached for comment.

Smisek was widely blamed for the airline’s cost-cutting measures, routine tardiness and growing customer dissatisfaction.

United and the Port Authority have received federal subpoenas requesting information and documentation concerning their dealings with one another. It was replaced by the old website – temporarily, a spokesman said. Mr Samson resigned from the Port Authority in March 2014 amid rumours he was linked to Bridgegate.

The “excessive” fees, airline representatives said, amounted to discrimination against the airline, and they asked the Federal Aviation Administration to audit the Port Authority’s decision-making on finances and fees.

Meanwhile, Newark is only getting more important for United.

[The half-empty United flight at the center of a federal corruption probe]. In a hastily arranged conference call, the new executive reiterated his plans for the carrier that operates over 700 planes.

Samson headed Christie’s gubernatorial transition team and has always been a key adviser.