Debbie McCoy to retire from Senior VP Flight Operations at Continental Airlines

Debbie McCoy, senior vice president-flight operations at Continental Airlines, has informed the airline of her intent to retire from the company, following a 26-year career.

McCoy started her Continental career as a pilot and is captain qualified on the DC9, MD80, A300, DC10, B757 and B767. McCoy later held positions of increasing responsibility including check airman, FAA designated examiner, fleet manager, director of flight standards and training, senior director of operational performance, and vice president of flight training and inflight. In her current role, McCoy is responsible for pilots, flight attendants, worldwide safety and regulatory compliance, food services and Chelsea Catering, crewmember standards and training, crew resources and System Operations Coordination Center, overseeing more than 16,000 employees and 1,200 daily worldwide flights.

“Debbie has been instrumental in helping Continental achieve operational excellence at a level that has really redefined the meaning of a consistent and reliable product for major network airlines,” said Chairman and CEO Larry Kellner. “Debbie has established a great team that will guide us for years to come. Along with the rest of the leadership, we thank her for her many years and contributions.”

McCoy is the first and only woman to head a major commercial airline pilot group. She has been a role model in the industry and within the company and has played a large role in promoting diversity at Continental, supporting the Women in Aviation Conference and the Organization of Black Airline Pilots. Recently, under McCoy’s leadership, Continental became the only airline to win the Flight Safety Foundation's Richard Teller Crane Founder's Award for flight safety.

The airline has stated that McCoy’s position will not be filled and her team will report to Mark Moran, executive vice president operations.

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