FRANKFURT, Germany, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. auto executives, castigated just months ago for their spendy private jets, took commercial flights to a European car show, the Detroit Free Press reported.
The Free Press said Wednesday the sight of General Motors Co. Chief Executive Officer Fritz Henderson having to take his shoes off in security check lines at airports is a sign of the times. Henderson also is staying at a less-expensive hotel while at the auto show in Frankfurt, Germany, the newspaper said.
GM also scaled back the size off its overseas contingent from dozens to just a select handful.
Likewise, Chrysler and Ford representatives at the show also took commercial flights.
Last winter, chief executives of the three U.S. automakers were called on the carpet at a congressional hearing for flying corporate jets to Washington. The common business practice became a symbol of what was wrong with the companies as they teetered at the brink of bankruptcy.
