United CEO apologizes for flying private jet while the airline delayed, canceled thousands of flights

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Former United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz discusses a government report blaming airlines for cancellations, retention in employees, and his new book, «Turnaround Time.»

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby apologized Friday for flying a private jet this week while passengers were left stranded by thousands of delays and cancelations this week.

Kirby called his decision to reportedly fly from an airport near Newark, New Jersey — where many of the delays and cancelations were occurring — to Denver on Wednesday «wrong» and «insensitive.» 

«Taking a private jet was the wrong decision because it was insensitive to our customers who were waiting to get home,» he said in a statement, according to multiple outlets. «I sincerely apologize to our customers and our team members who have been working around the clock for several days — often through severe weather — to take care of our customers.» 

The airline delayed and canceled more flights in the U.S. this week than any other carrier, which it blamed on bad weather and air traffic control shortages. 

THOUSANDS FORCED TO WAIT HOURS AT HOUSTON AIRPORT AFTER HUNDREDS OF DELAYS, CANCELATIONS 

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby apologized Friday for flying private amid thousands of cancelations for customers.  ( LOGAN CYRUS/AFP via Getty Images, File / Getty Images)

Thousands of flights at Newark, LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports had been scrapped starting Saturday after thunderstorms started to roll in. 

On Tuesday, Kirby slammed the FAA for the carrier’s problems.

«The FAA frankly failed us this weekend,» Kirby said in a memo to staff, adding that the weather in the New York City area «is something that the FAA has historically been able to manage without a severe impact on our