After wave of cancellations, Delta sees recovery in 2022
Delta Air Lines is reporting a $408 million loss for the final quarter of 2021, dragged down by a COVID-19 surge that rocked the airline in December, and the carrier expects to suffer one more quarterly loss before travel picks up in the spring and summer.
US airlines say COVID-19 variants aren't hurting bookings
Rising concern about the fast-spreading delta variant of COVID-19 is creating turbulence for the stocks of big travel companies, but airline executives say they don’t see any slowdown in ticket sales, maybe because a high percentage of their best customers are fully vaccinated. “We haven't seen any impact at all on bookings, which continue to just get stronger and stronger every week,” United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said Wednesday. Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said the same thing last week, although he added that variants were continuing to hobble international travel by delaying the opening of borders.
news.yahoo.comDelta CEO says opposing new Georgia voting law "is about protecting the voices of our people"
Delta CEO Ed Bastian is standing by his airline's latest statement criticizing Georgia's new voting law after the state legislature's Republican-dominated House voted to strip the company of tax breaks it receives in the state. Speaking to "CBS This Morning" Thursday, Bastian said he was "not going to respond" to the state House's apparent retaliation. "This is something that's more than money, this is about protecting the voices of our people," he said. The sweeping law imposes new restrictions on voting that critics say are designed to suppress the vote in low-income and non-White communities. In addition to Delta, Coca-Cola and JPMorgan have also condemned the new law.
cbsnews.comDelta CEO on controversial comments about new voting law, booking passengers back in middle seats
Delta CEO on controversial comments about new voting law, booking passengers back in middle seats Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss Georgia's new election law and his company's selling of airplane middle seats for the first time in a year.
cbsnews.comBiden says he'd "strongly support" moving MLB All-Star game out of Atlanta due to strict new Georgia voting curbs
President Biden says he'd "strongly support" moving the Major League Baseball All-Star game out of Atlanta as a rebuke to strict new voting restrictions in the state. "Unfortunately, that excuse is being used in states across the nation that are attempting to pass similar legislation to restrict voting rights." He has called for his 90,000 parishioners to boycott Delta, Coca-Cola and other major brands. "Will people believe future Delta statements or actions regarding voting rights or social justice?" Civil rights groups have filed federal lawsuits seeking to overturn the Georgia law.
cbsnews.comGeorgia House votes to strip Delta Air Lines of big tax break after carrier's CEO condemns state's new voting curbs
Republicans in the Georgia House of Representatives voted late Wednesday to strip Delta Air Lines of a tax break worth tens of millions of dollars annually. "Unfortunately, that excuse is being used in states across the nation that are attempting to pass similar legislation to restrict voting rights." He has called for his 90,000 parishioners to boycott Delta, Coca-Cola and other major brands. "Will people believe future Delta statements or actions regarding voting rights or social justice?" Advocates want corporate leaders like Bastian and Quincey to help.
cbsnews.comCoca-Cola, Delta and JPMorgan lead companies in condemning Georgia's voting law
Citi and Microsoft also expressed concerns about the Georgia law Wednesday. Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey told CNBC on Wednesday that Georgia's new voting law is "unacceptable" and "a step backwards." The Georgia law, among other things, requires a photo ID in order to vote absentee by mail. That's an option that more than 1.3 million Georgia voters used during the coronavirus pandemic. Boycotts threatenedThe law, which passed last week, has sparked calls for boycotts of major Georgia-based companies including Coca-Cola, Delta, Home Depot and UPS because those companies had not spoken out against it.
cbsnews.comMajor U.S. companies take aim at Georgia's new voting restrictions
Business executives across the United States are calling out efforts to restrict voting access after Georgia Gov. "Equal access to voting is the very foundation of American democracy. Brian Moynihan, chairman and CEO of Bank of America, told CNBC in a statement that ensuring equal voting access is aligned with the company's investments in reducing racial inequality and increasing economic opportunity. "JPMorgan Chase employees span the United States and as state capitals debate election laws, we believe voting must be accessible and equitable. In a statement Wednesday to CNBC, Kemp defended the law and specifically took aim at Delta's chief executive.
cnbc.comUnder pressure, some Ga. corporate leaders slam voting bill
The sweeping rewrite of Georgia's election rules that was signed into law by Republican Gov. AdThe reaction wasn’t much friendlier from voting rights groups that fought the legislation and criticized corporate players for not trying to block it altogether. Quincey noted on CNBC that Coca-Cola, even before Georgia's action, already had paused its PAC activity and would consider politicians' position on voting rights as part of future contributions. Bishop Reginald Jackson, who presides over more than 400 African Methodist Episcopal churches in Georgia, said too many corporate leaders have been “silent” on voting laws. Civil rights groups have filed federal lawsuits seeking to overturn the Georgia law.
End of a Covid era: Delta to stop blocking middle seats on May 1
Delta Air Lines said Wednesday it will stop blocking seats on its planes starting May 1, the last U.S. airline to end the Covid-19-era policy as more travelers return to the skies. Delta first started blocking middle seats and limiting capacity on smaller planes in April near the start of the pandemic. Other airlines had similar policies, including Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Alaska Airlines, but they have since gone back to selling all seats. Delta and other carriers have repeatedly said filtration systems and intense cleaning make it unlikely that travelers will catch Covid-19 on a plane. But Delta said many travelers choose Delta over other airlines because it kept its policy in place.
cnbc.comUS air travel rises to highest levels yet since pandemic hit
(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)Across the United States, air travel is recovering more quickly from the depths of the pandemic, and it is showing up in longer airport security lines and busier traffic on airline websites. "Our last three weeks have been the best three weeks since the pandemic hit, and each week has been better than the one prior,” American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said Monday. However, the airlines still have far to go before travel fully returns to pre-pandemic levels. Since the pandemic hit, air travel has picked up a few times — mostly around holidays — only to drop back down. The airline said people are booking leisure trips to beach and mountain destinations but business travel is still lagging.
Air travel jumps as vaccinations spur vacation bookings, stocks surge
But TSA screenings have topped 1 million every day since Thursday, the highest volumes in a year. It had estimated in January that it would lose $19 million a day during the first three months of the year. Airline CEOs noted that bookings aren't just picking up for the near term, but for the summer vacation season, generally the most lucrative for airlines. "I think that there's going to be more travel going forward, just period," he said at a JPMorgan industry conference. Southwest Airlines said revenue trends are improving as it slightly lowered its forecasts for cash burn in the first quarter.
cnbc.comDelta CEO Ed Bastian discusses testing, summer 'surge'
FILE - In this Oct. 29, 2019 file photo, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian talks at the new $3.9 billion Terminal C at LaGuardia Airport in New York. Bastian says travel demand will be weak for the next couple months, but he's holding onto hope for a summer surge " in 2021. Q: How much international travel do you expect this summer? Q: How important is testing passengers for COVID-19 to allow more international travel? We’re seeing some revenue improvement ... and I don’t think that’s a big step to go from $12 million a day to break-even.
'It's a new normal' — Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian on changing role of a CEO during trying times
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian told CNBC's David Faber that he never expected he would be addressing the pace of change we are seeing in the world. Bastian told Faber that with continued government support, vaccine distribution and mask compliance he believes people will feel more comfortable flying this summer. Currently, the airline industry is responsible for nearly 3% of the world's carbon footprint, something Bastian admitted is unsustainable. "Cleanliness initiatives will absolutely stay," Bastian told Faber. With the airline industry looking to rebound after being one of the hardest hit during the pandemic, Bastian remains hopeful about getting back to business.
cnbc.comFlight attendants play 'babysitter for adults' as bad behavior onboard spikes; FAA threatens hefty fines
The FAA last week said it would fine travelers the maximum $35,000 for unruly behavior, instead of a usual procedure of a warnings. Airline passengers are legally obligated to follow crew member instructions. Unruly passenger behavior or interfering with crew's duties is against federal law. Even before the Capitol riot, the rate of cases of unruly passenger behavior had been on the rise. From January through the end of November, the latest available data, the FAA pursued 108 enforcement actions for such behavior.
cnbc.comMajor airlines banning guns in checked bags to D.C.-area airports ahead of Inauguration Day
Airlines and airports say they are stepping up security before next week's presidential inauguration, with Delta and other major airlines saying they will prohibit passengers flying to the Washington area from putting guns in checked bags. All said their bans will start Saturday and run through Inauguration Day until January 23. Last week, passengers on an airport shuttle bus to Reagan airport made racial slurs against a Black flight attendant, according to the union representing American's flight attendants. Price also said that it is "a good idea" to prohibit passengers from putting guns in checked bags if they are flying to Washington. Federal law allows passengers to put guns in checked baggage if they are unloaded and in a locked, hard-sided case, although airlines have the discretion to ban guns.
cbsnews.comMost major US airlines ban guns in luggage for DC flights
Delta, United and Alaska airlines said Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021 they will bar passengers flying to Washington from putting guns in checked bags. The moves follow the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump and politically tinged confrontations on some flights. American Airlines is bringing back a ban on serving alcohol on flights to and from the Washington area — flights go dry starting Saturday through next Thursday. Price also said that it is “a good idea” to prohibit passengers from putting guns in checked bags if they are flying to Washington. Federal law allows passengers to put guns in checked baggage if they are unloaded and in a locked, hard-sided case, although airlines have the discretion to ban guns.
Delta lost more than $12 billion last year as COVID-19 slams airlines
Delta on Thursday reported a $755 million quarterly loss and a $12.4 billion loss for the entire year. The full-year loss compared with a profit of $4.8 billion in 2019 and snapped a string of 10 straight profitable years for Delta. People will soon be planning summer vacations and, Bastian said in an interview, Delta expects bookings "to start opening up again." So far in January, air travel in the U.S. is down nearly 60% from a year ago. Revenue plunged to $3.97 billion from $11.44 billion a year earlier, when the pandemic was just beginning to affect U.S. travel.
cbsnews.comAirlines ban DC-bound travelers from checking firearms ahead of inauguration
Most major U.S. airlines on Thursday said they will prohibit passengers flying to major airports serving the Washington, D.C., to check firearms, further tightening security ahead of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration. Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines said the new policy, which starts this weekend and runs through next week, comes after last week's deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol and a spate of politically motivated disturbances on flights and at airports. Airlines, airports and hotels are ramping up security ahead of Wednesday's inauguration. Several airports said they will add more police, while airlines are increasing staffing at airports and booking overnighting crews at airport hotels instead of the city center. A spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration, which scans checked and carry-on bags, said it can detect improperly checked or undeclared firearms.
cnbc.comA $12 billion loss for 2020, Delta is cautious in early 2021
FILE - In this May 14, 2020 file photo, several dozen mothballed Delta Air Lines jets are parked on a closed runway at Kansas City International Airport in Kansas City, Mo. Delta Air Lines is reporting a $755 million loss for the fourth quarter, which brings its loss for all of 2020 to more than $12 billion. Delta on Thursday reported a quarterly loss of $755 and $12.4 billion in losses for all of 2020. So far in January, air travel in the U.S. is down nearly 60% from a year ago. Helped by two rounds of government aid, plus billions more from issuing new debt, Delta ended 2020 with $16.7 billion in liquidity.
Delta halves cash burn in the fourth quarter, narrows losses to cap worst year ever
Delta Air Lines said Thursday it halved its cash burn and narrowed its losses in the fourth quarter as the coronavirus pandemic drove the carrier to its worst year ever. Total revenue fell 65% from $11.44 billion in the fourth quarter of 2019 to $3.97 billion. The carrier's cash burn averaged $12 million a day in the quarter ended Dec. 31, down by half from its average cash burn of $24 million a day in the third quarter. Delta said it ended the fourth quarter with $16.7 billion in liquidity. Delta raised billions in debt last year, including a record $9 billion debt sale backed by its frequent-flyer program SkyMiles.
cnbc.comAir travel hit a new pandemic high over New Year's weekend. Now comes the hard part
U.S. travel hit a new pandemic high, surging from holiday demand despite new Covid-19 infection levels. Air travel spiked around the Christmas and New Year's holidays despite warnings from health officials to avoid travel to help curb the spread of Covid-19. Air travel is still around half of last year's levels, and airline executives have warned they expect demand to wane outside of peak holiday periods. "Just as we've never experienced a global pandemic in our history, we've also never had to create and execute a plan for recovery from one. We will be building a new Delta centered on a medical and economic recovery that hasn't yet taken shape."
cnbc.comDelta CEO asks employees to take more unpaid leave in 2021 as industry continues to struggle
Delta Airline employees check in luggage at the Ronald Reagan National Airport on July 22, 2020 in Arlington, Virginia. During the COVID-19 pandemic, all employees and passengers are required to wear facemasks while onboard a Delta plane. Delta Air Lines CEO on Wednesday asked employees to sign up for more unpaid leave with a slump in travel to continue into 2021. "I ask everyone to consider whether a voluntary leave makes sense for you and your family." More than 40,000 Delta employees have opted for unpaid leaves of absence at the company's urging.
cnbc.comDelta joins American in scrapping international ticket change fees
Delta Air Lines Airbus A330 aircraft as seen on final approach in Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport in the Netherlands. Delta Air Lines is getting rid of $200 international ticket change fees, joining American Airlines in the measure that aims to spur travel demand that has been decimated in the coronavirus pandemic. Delta, American and United in August dropped change fees for domestic flights. American last month expanded that to international travel, including long-haul routes. Change and cancellation fees brought in $2.8 billion for U.S. carriers last year, according to the Department of Transportation.
cnbc.comAs virus cases rise, Southwest sees slower travel recovery
DALLAS – Southwest Airlines cautioned Thursday that the tenuous recovery in air travel could be fading as coronavirus cases spike across the United States. Airline stocks surged on Monday after Pfizer reported promising early results from a trial of a coronavirus vaccine. The report from Dallas-based Southwest added to fears that the spreading virus cases will hurt travel demand heading into Thanksgiving, a key period for airlines. It is unclear whether the weakening booking trends is directly related to the surge in virus cases. Airline stocks fell more sharply than broader market indexes.
Correction: Virus Outbreak-Business Travel story
Brandon Contreras represents the worst fears of the lucrative business travel industry. Work travel represented 21% of the $8.9 trillion spent on global travel and tourism in 2019, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. Right now, Delta’s business travel revenue is down 85%. ExxonMobil cut business travel in February — even before the pandemic’s full impact was felt in the U.S. — because of falling global demand for oil. But he thinks new kinds of business travel could also emerge.
US airlines still piling up losses but say demand is rising
Southwest Airlines on Thursday, Oct. 22, lost $1.16 billion in the normally strong third quarter, which includes most of the summer vacation season. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)DALLAS – Airlines are piling up billions of dollars in additional losses as the pandemic chokes off air travel, but a recent uptick in passengers, however modest, has provided some hope. However, air travel in October is still down 65% from a year ago. The Seattle company said that removing one-time gains and costs, the loss came to $3.23 per share, which was wider than the $2.86 per share loss predicted by analysts. Earlier this month, Delta Air Lines posted a $5.4 billion loss and United Airlines lost $1.8 billion for the third quarter.
Delta posts $5.4 billion 3Q loss as pandemic hammers travel
Since then, Delta has concentrated on hoarding cash — it raised $9 billion by mortgaging its frequent-flyer program — and cutting costs. Executives said 40,000 took leave during the summer; 12,000 were on leave in September. “We haven’t needed to furlough — our employees took care of that themselves,” Bastian said in an interview. They saved each other’s jobs.”Back in April, airlines reached agreements with the Treasury Department for up to $25 billion in payroll relief, with Delta getting $5.4 billion. Delta employees say the company helped them apply for taxpayer-funded unemployment benefits if they took a voluntary leave of absence.
Airline CEO: If you insist on not wearing a mask, we’ll insist you not fly with us -- from here on out
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian has put out what some are calling an aggressive enforcement of mask-wearing on the company’s flights. ”If you board the plane and you insist on not wearing your mask, we will insist that you don’t fly Delta into the future,” Bastian told Today in an interview Wednesday. The CEO said the stance is one he’s taking in order to keep crew and passengers safe during the pandemic. As the coronavirus pandemic continues, Delta flights have been booked to 60% of their capacity, Today reported after speaking with Bastian. “We’ve had some customers indicate that they have (an) underlying condition that makes wearing a mask dangerous for them,” Bastian said.
Delta bans 120 passengers for refusing to wear face masks
As the global coronavirus pandemic continues, face masks have become a requirement in business around the world. Delta Air Lines has put 120 passengers on its no-fly list after refusing to comply with the carrier’s requirement to wear a mask while aboard one of its flights, according to a report from CBS News. We’ve already banned 120 flyers from future travel with Delta for refusing to wear masks on board.”Atlanta-based Delta is also expanding its COVID-19 testing program to cover its entire workforce over the next four weeks. That will include at-home screening for employees, starting with those who live in two virus hotspots, Florida and Texas. Most major U.S. airlines now require masks to be worn on flights, but until recently enforcement has been spotty.
Growth has stalled" .... surging infections hit Delta
Growth has stalled, Delta CEO Ed Bastian said. Delta is the first U.S. airline to report financial results for the May-through-June quarter, and the numbers were ugly. Deltas second-quarter loss compared with a year-ago profit of $1.44 billion during what is normally a strong season for airlines. Atlanta-based Delta said its adjusted loss worked out to $4.43 per share, wider than the $4.16 per share average in a FactSet survey of analysts. Whether that happens at Delta could depend on how many employees accepted buyouts or early retirement offers by a Monday deadline.
Airlines increase job cuts as pandemic crushes air travel
American Airlines, meanwhile, plans to cut its 17,000 management and support staff by 30% about 5,100 jobs. Major airlines in Europe and the United States are on better footing after receiving promises of billions in assistance. If the pandemic rages on and air travel remains severely depressed this fall, however, there are no guarantees, even for the strongest airlines. The airlines' troubles are creating ripples through the aviation industry, at aircraft makers Boeing and Airbus and their suppliers. Airlines are looking for governments to help not only with financial aid but to take steps that might encourage more people to fly.