[Politicians] - they'll give you everything you want to your face - and then, as you walk away, they'll shoot you in the back because it's fun to watch you die.

The airline business is fast-paced, high risk, and highly leveraged. It puts a premium on things I like to do. I think I communicate well. And I am very good at detail. I love detail.

I did not deal well with the politicians. I tend to tell people that when they are full of crap, that they are full of crap.

The game we are playing her is closest to the old game of 'Christians and lions.'

I've never invested in any airline. I'm an airline manager. I don't invest in airlines. And I always said to the employees of American, 'This is not an appropriate investment. It's a great place to work and it's a great company that does important work. But airlines are not an investment.'

A lot of people came into the airline business. Most of them promptly exited, minus their money.

I've said many times that I'd be thrilled to sell the airline to the employees and our guys said no, we'll take all the money, anyway.