Name: Ed Bastian
Title: Chief executive officer
Company, city: Delta Air Lines; Atlanta, Ga.
Number of employees: 80,000
Recent project: Ongoing initiatives include finalizing a joint venture with Aeromexico and expanding our partnership with Korean Air, major facility enhancements and expansion at LAX, a significant terminal redevelopment at New York-LaGuardia, and continuing a program of profit-sharing that has delivered over $1 billion to employees for the third consecutive year.
First job: Working on a road crew in upstate New York
Little-known fact about you: I once served as the official accountant for the MTV Music Awards and briefly appeared on the show.
Your Business
What innovations/initiatives do you foresee in the industry over the next years? The coming years represent a major opportunity to rethink and elevate the on-the-ground customer experience. We are investing heavily in airport facilities systemwide, with particular focus on New York and Los Angeles. Those investments let us redesign how we deliver world-class service while improving operational efficiency. For the first time in decades airlines are competing on service, which should benefit every traveler.
Best career advice you’ve received: Follow your heart. I did when I returned to Delta to lead the company’s restructuring — even though it meant a 50 percent pay cut. It was the right decision because it brought me back to the company and people I care deeply about.
What advice would you give someone starting out in the field? Don’t be overly cautious. Trust your instincts, and when an idea is ambitious or even audacious, don’t be afraid to pursue it. Taking smart risks is often how you make meaningful progress.
Ed Bastian as a Traveler
Favorite travel memory or story: Today, the most rewarding aspect of travel is speaking directly with Delta employees and customers and hearing their feedback. My earliest travel memory is my first flight at age 25 — I had no idea then that I would one day lead one of the world’s largest airlines.
One travel tip you cannot live without: Always bring chargers for your phone and tablet. Airports and aircraft increasingly provide power outlets, but they’re useless without the right chargers.
Best advice for business travelers: Build a relationship with your preferred airline. Beyond loyalty program perks, frequent interactions create familiarity with the airline’s people. Delta employees enjoy recognizing and knowing our best customers by name and treating them like part of the family.
About Delta Air Lines
What is the design philosophy behind Delta’s new uniforms? The goal was to create uniforms that are comfortable, functional, and contemporary, helping Delta people look and feel professional. Employees played a central role in the design process, ensuring practicality and style.
Delta’s newest widebody flagship aircraft will be the Airbus A350-900; what can our readers look forward to? The A350 is transformative for Delta’s international network. It features high-speed WiFi, complimentary in-flight entertainment across the cabin, the new private Delta One suite and other customer-focused enhancements. Its extended range enables nonstop service from the United States to cities in Asia we cannot serve today. The A350 also operates more efficiently, reducing environmental impact and lowering operating costs.
What does the future hold for U.S. carriers in terms of flights to the Gulf? We are hopeful the new administration will enforce Open Skies rules more rigorously. The principle behind Open Skies is fair and equal competition, but governments of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have undermined that by providing more than $50 billion in direct subsidies to state-owned carriers. Those subsidies have pushed U.S. carriers out of some Middle Eastern markets and India, and continued unchecked expansion by Gulf airlines will further distort competition.
What can premium travelers expect from the Delta One experience? Delta One continues to raise the bar for premium travel. Recently honored with the Crystal Cabin Award, Delta One offers a luxurious, private experience — including suites with sliding doors — that elevates business-class travel to a new standard.