GM, Ford Will Sell Corporate Jet Fleet

December 2, 2008— -- Ford and General Motors will sell their fleet of corporate luxury jets, the two struggling auto companies announced today.

The move comes two weeks after ABC News revealed Ford CEO Alan Mulally, GM CEO Rick Wagoner and Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli traveled to Washington in private jets to plead poverty and ask Congress for $25 billion in taxpayer money.

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In a statement, GM said, "Due to significant cutbacks over the past months, GM travel volume no longer justified a dedicated corporate aircraft operation."

"We don't use them much anyway," said GM spokesman Mike Meyerand. "It saves us a lot of money to get out of this business," he said.

Ford also confirmed that it has decided to sell its five corporate aircraft.

Chrysler said it does not have a corporate jet facility, and instead leases jets on an as-needed basis from an outside aircraft operator. Chrysler spokesman Ed Garsten said the company is "weighing its options for future corporate travel."

The auto companies initially said the ABC News stories about their CEOs flying private jets were "a distraction" and claimed the CEOs were "required" by the corporate boards to travel in private aircraft.

They were met with stinging criticism as they appeared before the Congressional committees considering their request for a taxpayer bailout.

None of the CEOs plans to fly in private aircraft for their scheduled appearance before Congress on Thursday.