United Airlines was in regular negotiations with the Port Authority and the Christie administration during Samson’s tenure over issues that included expansion of the airline’s service to Atlantic City and the extension of the PATH train to Newark Liberty.
Three Christie allies – his former deputy chief of staff and two former top executives at the Port Authority – were charged last spring with closing lanes and engineering all-out gridlock at the foot of the nation’s busiest bridge in September 2013 to exact revenge on a Democratic mayor who declined to endorse Christie’s re-election bid.
When asked about new developments during his radio and cable television interviews, Christie said he had no knowledge of any wrongdoing and can not be expected to know what all his appointees are doing.
According to the paper, the flights provided Samson with “more direct travel between Newark and his weekend home in Aiken, S.C., about 50 miles from the airport in Columbia”.
United Airlines was seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in public investment for the airport in Newark and that was to be the topic of the meeting.
He resigned as chief executive, president and chairman of United Airlines this week amid a corruption probe by federal investigators. In early 2015, it canceled large numbers of flights on its United Express regional brand, which is operated by other carriers.
The Port Authority oversees all New York- and New Jersey-area airports and railways and controlled decisions important to United’s business in the region. Smisek subsequently made United one of the world’s most profitable airlines, but in the process United’s customer-service reputation has plummeted.
Giving Smisek free flights won’t win favor with customers, Jenter acknowledged, but “it can make good business sense to pay a relatively generous severance package to avoid the bad publicity and distractions involved in a messy CEO departure”.
Samson resigned his position as Port Authority Chairman in March 2014, soon after the Bridgegate scandal erupted. He even credits Smisek – along with former United CEO Glenn Tilton – for helping engineer the United-Continental merger that kept both companies relevant in a wave of consolidation among US airlines. Samson’s attorney described the news outlet’s account as one of numerous “inaccurate reports”. He also said he’s no longer in close contact with Samson, the chairman of his 2009 gubernatorial transition team, because Samson has moved out-of-state.
Gene Kaskiw, a New York-based top-tier “1K” elite in United’s frequent-flier program, says he’s always had a favorable impression of Smisek “as a person”.
Failed to cooperate with the company on legal proceeding or investigations stemming from events while Smisek was employed by United.
According to federal law enforcement officials, United paid for an internal investigation that led to the ouster of the United executives. He was under pressure for several years as United was slower than Delta Air Lines to return to profitability following the recession.
Company health benefits until he is eligible for medicare.
At the airport in South Carolina, though, little attention was paid when the flight was added or when it was terminated in April 2014.