Putting in a new CEO is certainly a way to clean the slate of old animosities with specific union reps and regulators.
The reported fact that Mr. Tilton "has no airline experience", but is a "long time oil industry executive" suggests that he has a lot of mutual friends in touch with the current U.S. president and Vice President, both of whom are from the 'oil patch', the petroleum industry, especially that part in Texas - Oklahoma. That's a pretty exclusive club, where everybody knows everybody else and a person's word is his bond. So Tilton is likely connected in a way that will credibly facilitate the sought after Federal bailout if 'reasonable' terms can be reached with UAL employees.
A good sign for UAL shareholders, and probably for all concerned.