The business of safely, reliably and attentively serving our customers and keeping our airline running smoothly is what we focus on every day-and that's as it should be. It is critical, however, that we also engage in long term strategic planning, that is focusing on our goals for the long term and how we will achieve them. That's precisely what we did in Onboard Service this week as 60 of the division's top leaders met at World Headquarters for a critical Leadership Conference.

Glenn Tilton and a number of other executive and senior officers joined us to talk about United's future direction and to provide updates on the company's strategic business plan, operations, finances and customer strategy. We talked extensively about the key role that Onboard Service plays in United's business strategy and overall success.
Later, in sessions with just our division leaders, I outlined Onboard's strategic plan going forward.

The Onboard leadership team has put a lot of thought into that plan over the past few weeks. The result is a new mission, a set of fundamental behaviors that will shape how we do our business, and goals that will form the framework for our division's business plan, not just for next year, but for the next several years. We'll share detailed information on these topics in the coming weeks, beginning next Friday with our mission statement. I hope you'll call in to my Update or check it out on SkyNet.

Make no mistake that you have had-and will continue to have- a pivotal role in United's overall success. Your exceptional performance is not just about numbers. In the eyes of our customers, our competitors, our creditors and everyone else who is watching -- United is a contender, and you helped make that happen.

I experience that great work every time I take a flight. I observe your collaboration with fellow crewmembers, customer service representatives, flight officers, and employees from key departments in order to facilitate on-time departures. You are a driving force behind our exceptional operating performance. In September, a month when a hurricane shut down a significant portion of the United States East Coast, United employees turned in the best operating month in the company's history. This impressive 80.4 percent on time zero departure record can only be attributed to our employees, who have given so much of themselves and remain dedicated to running a great airline. At the same time, the customer service you provided was exceptional and our ratings show it. As I mentioned last week, results like these are not JUST good numbers. Strong operating results are the building blocks of future success for United, and we cannot achieve that success without your hard work. Thanks to all of you for doing your best work in spite of the operational challenges. I appreciate all of your efforts.

And I am not alone. The company recognizes employees' valuable contributions, too. In order to show appreciation for a tremendously successful year thus far, October 15, has been designated Employee Appreciation Day. In addition to local celebrations in domiciles and stations throughout the world, stay tuned to Monday's NewsReal for a very important and exciting announcement.

Before I close, I want to let you know that applications for the LCO Advisory Council are now available on SkyNet. This concept was developed to enhance the success of the Low Cost Operation, and is a great opportunity for employees who are interested in providing input to leadership on matters that impact our employees and customers. The Advisory Council will consist of a cross-divisional group of employees from across the system and is open to all employees. Individuals who are chosen to serve on this team will meet once a month and must be able to balance this time commitment with their normal job responsibilities. Today's NewsReal contains a description of the council's role, eligibility requirements and lists the attributes of the ideal candidate. I encourage you to read it thoroughly if you are interested in applying for this unique opportunity. Applications will only be available on SkyNet and must be submitted electronically. They will be accepted from October 10 through October 20.

That's all for today. Fly safe and thanks for making this a great week.