United CEO: 'This company is going to work'

In his first annual shareholder meeting as CEO of United Continental, Oscar Munoz acknowledged that six years after United and Continental officially joined in 2010, they've yet to be "successfully integrated." But Munoz said he's committed to making the partnership happen. "We have no plans of unfurling," he said Wednesday. "This company is going to work." Shareholders and employees praised the company's change in tone under Munoz, who took the top job at United in September after predecessor Jeff Smisek resigned amid a federal corruption investigation. But they also questioned how the company's board let things get to the point where a turnaround was necessary and why some post-merger labor negotiations still seemed to drag. Munoz, a member of United's board since 2010, said the board could take some blame for things "we should have been more observant with." He said that's why he's been spending more time on the airline's front lines, working with employees and customers, since returning to work full-time in March after a heart attack and subsequent transplant. At the meeting, Munoz said the airline's labour issues remain a top priority. "It is important that we win back the trust of employees first, then customers," he said. Improving performance and reliability is next on the list, and Munoz said United is making good progress. A video shown at the start of the meeting touted recent changes: a post-merger record for quarterly on-time performance, new international routes, a revamped international business class with sleep pods and luxury pillows, free in-flight snacks and fancier coffee. Once United gets the nuts and bolts right, Munoz said he wants the airline that's "been in the market in a docile way" to be more disruptive and innovative. Among those disruptions are improving the airline's technology and adding new routes, Munoz said.<br/>