American's CEO Explains Why He Wants to Be Paid Only in Stock
Doug Parker, chairman and chief executive officer of American Airlines Group, speaks during the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's 14th Annual Aviation Summit in Washington on March 17.
Photographer: Andrew Harrer/BloombergInvestors wondering whether U.S. airlines have sorted out the key to sustained profits, consider this: The chief executive officer of the world’s largest airline, American, says the industry is so financially safe that he’s asked to be paid only in company stock.
“I wouldn't be doing this if I thought it was still the same old airline business, because it's not,” Doug Parker said on Friday in a quarterly earnings call, explaining his reasoning two days after American released executives’ 2014 compensation. “I’m not suggesting there is not still risk in airline stocks, but we're really bullish on what the outlook is for years to come.”