Bailout Watch 290: The Truth About GM, Ford CEOs' D.C. Commute
“Jet Gate” was a bit of an embarassment all ’round. Even Detroit’s fiercest critics (oh me! pick me!) understand that a business jet is an acceptable expense when you’re running a multi-national corporation. Provided, of course, you use the jet to get an efficient, realistic, first-hand look at conditions “on the ground” within your far-flung Empire; from factories to suppliers to dealers. Rather than, I dunno, ferrying the wife and kids back and forth to Seattle. Or flying to one location that’s well-served by commercial traffic. Anyway, Detroit’s chastened uber-suits made a big show of selling the jets (how’s that going guys?) and wheeling into DC (for round two) in their companies’ most fuel efficient products. Well, not the most efficient. That would have hurt. And now, thanks to The Detroit News’ Charlie LeDuff, TTAC can reveal that Mr. Mulally and Mr. Wagoner’s drivers– yes, drivers– “split the job.” What’s more, “Those who drove the executives to Washington flew home to Detroit, while those charged with driving the executives back flew one way to Washington to pick them up.” LeDuff says “In the end, it would have been cheaper to fly the jets.” But we couldn’t possibly comment.
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Nice that its a HondaJet!
LOL @ the HondaJet as photo for the story. TTAC is great, all hail TTAC etc etc
I agree with calling BS on the whole subject. Perhaps one of the Wichita delegation should figure out which industry is big in the so called gentleman from California's district, and attack it. I don't care if it's tomatoes, software, movies, or whatever. It's likely a luxury we don't need.