I thought I'd post this to see if others are begining to notice that CO is losing focus on its operations particularly when it comes to on-time departure. Also, how they handle themseleves when things go wrong.

Yesterday I travelled from EWR-IAH on CO 63 which left EWR almost exactly two hours late.

The story went like this...

(departure):
- Everyone on-board in time to make the 15:10 departure
- Announcement that there was 'a problem with the air compressor that is used to start the engines on the 767'
- Replacement starter brought in within 30 mins
- Then an announcement '30 international bags just showed up... decided to load them' another 25 mins
- Finally backed away from the gate 1hr late
- Sat on a taxi-way for 1hr waiting for a departure slot
- Took off almost exactly 2 hrs late
- crew did everything they could to make up time in the air

(arrival):
- Announcement 'we'll be coming into gate D5'
- Everyone with connections sighs
- Announcement... 'sorry folks there's a plane at that gate, we've radio'd to get it moved'
- 10 mins later the plane is towed away
- everyone who nearly made their connections now have to run like crazy to C and E since D is totally deserted.

CO used to be better than this... ok, so the air blower was genuine a problem.. but after that, the bags, take-off slot, arrival gate etc were just bad operational exectution.

ufo.