Delta Most Admired

Delta Air Lines issued the following memo from CEO Richard Anderson to its more than 80,000 employees:

FORTUNE magazine has ranked Delta the most admired airline worldwide in its 2011 World’s Most Admired Companies airline industry list, published today. This is a remarkable achievement and yet another testament to the hard work of Delta people. Congratulations!

Delta has moved up in the airline rankings in the FORTUNE list from 10th in 2007, to sixth in 2008 and 2009, and third place in 2010. The airlines ranked second through 12th in the FORTUNE industry list, in order, are: Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Lufthansa Group, Air France-KLM Group, Cathay Pacific Airways, United Continental, Qantas Airways, British Airways, All Nippon Airways, US Airways Group and AMR.

The annual FORTUNE World’s Most Admired Companies airlines list is based on results of a global survey of airline executives, directors and analysts who rate companies in their own industry on nine criteria: people management, quality of management, innovation, long-term investment, use of corporate assets, financial soundness, social responsibility, quality of product and services and global competitiveness. In addition to ranking top overall in the airline industry list, Delta ranked No. 1 among airlines in long-term investment, quality of management, global competitiveness and social responsibility.

This award is proof of the great strides we have made in building a strong global business for our customers, employees, shareholders and the communities we serve. We’ve completed virtually all our merger integration, launched significant investments in our customer experience and the technology that supports the way we do business, strengthened our industry-leading joint venture and alliance relationships, and expanded our international reach. These are just a few of the things that have caused others to recognize what the more than 80,000 employees of Delta have achieved.

The recognition is not only a testament to what we have accomplished, but also our path in getting to this point. Through all of this change, we’ve preserved a unique culture anchored in dignity and respect. Delta stayed true to its word, with no frontline involuntary furloughs as a result of the merger. We created new jobs in TechOps, Cargo, Airport Customer Service, Reservations, Flight Operations and In-flight Service to support our larger international network. In addition to frontline pay increases, Delta also has invested more than $2.5 billion in Delta people in the form of company equity, profit sharing, and operational performance bonuses over the last four years, all while maintaining low unit costs and reducing debt.

Our progress and steadfast commitment to the Delta culture have been remarkable. Business leaders around the world have noticed all the hard work you have been doing. Your commitment to make Delta a better airline for our customers and investors, while building on our heritage as a great place to work is a point of pride for all of us.

Thank you for all you do for Delta every day.

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    Delta Air Lines CEO to Chair Air Transport Association Board

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2010 — The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization representing the leading U.S. airlines, announced today that Delta Air Lines CEO Richard H. Anderson has been elected chairman of the ATA Board of Directors. Southwest Airlines Chairman of the Board, President and CEO Gary C. Kelly was named vice chairman.

    Anderson, who succeeds United’s Glenn F. Tilton and Kelly both will serve a two-year term.

    “Richard Anderson is a strong leader and a proven chief executive, with the necessary credentials to further propel the mission of ATA as it faces the challenges and priorities in this next Congress,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May. “Richard Anderson, Gary Kelly and incoming ATA President and CEO Nick Calio will complement each other as the association’s board representatives with the administration and the new Congress.”

    “I look forward to working cooperatively with the administration, Congress and regulatory agencies to advance initiatives that support continued improvements in the financial health of the U.S. aviation industry and maintain our focus on safety,” said Anderson. “Airlines are a vital industry in the U.S. and provide 11 million jobs annually. Our association’s focus is to move tax and regulatory oversight in a direction that fosters growth and makes us an even stronger economic engine for America.”

    “I look forward to serving as ATA Board vice chairman,” Kelly said. “I am committed to our continued work to help ensure the long-term stability and viability of the aviation industry.”

    Richard Anderson became Delta Air Lines CEO in September 2007 and was the architect of the airline’s merger with Northwest Airlines, which closed in October 2008. Prior to joining Delta, Anderson was executive vice president at UnitedHealth Group and served as president of UnitedHealth’s Commercial Markets Group. He also served as CEO of Northwest Airlines from 2001 to 2004.
    Kelly began his career at Southwest Airlines as controller in 1986, moving up to chief financial officer and vice president of finance, then executive vice president and CFO, before being promoted to CEO and vice chairman in July 2004. Gary assumed the role of chairman in May 2008 and president in July 2008. Prior to joining Southwest Airlines in 1986, Gary was a CPA for Arthur Young & Company in Dallas and controller for Systems Center, Inc.

    ATA recently named Nicholas E. Calio president and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2011. Calio currently leads Global Government Affairs for Citigroup, both in the United States and in the more than 100 countries in which the company does business. Prior to joining Citigroup in 2003, Calio was the assistant to the president for legislative affairs and service as chief liaison to the U.S. Congress for President George W. Bush, the same position he held under President George H.W. Bush.

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    Delta Airlines Plane Makes Emergency Landing in Rome

    250px-Delta_logo.svgDelta Airlines flight DL-444 made an emergency landing at Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy, on April 27th.

    The Airbus A330-300 plane was flying from John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, when the crew declared emergency due to a hydraulic problem.

    The plane landed uneventfully. Everyone aboard remained safe.

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    Delta Emergency Landing in Indianapolis


    Pictured: A Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-832 over Minneapolis / St. Paul – International / Wold-Chamberlain Field
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Gary Chambers

    What: Delta Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from Minneapolis to Atlanta
    Where: Indianapolis
    When: Jan 15th 2010 8:00 am
    Who: 160 people on board
    Why: While en route, the plane indicated that it had developed an oil leak. Pilots diverted to Indianapolis where it made a safe landing.

    Maintenance is looking for the cause of the indicator. The engine did not fail. If the engine is “recertified” by maintenance, passengers will continue on that plane; if not, alternative transport will be provided.

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    Delta Tire Blows at Salt Lake


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Paul Jongeneelen

    What: Delta Boeing 767-300 en route from Salt Lake City to Paris
    Where: Salt Lake International Airport
    When: June 16, 2012. 7 pm
    Who: 198 aboard
    Why: On takeoff from salt Lake City, a left tire on the Delta flight blew. Pilots circled, performed a flyby and dumped fuel before they made a safe landing.

    The plane was examined in the hanger, and passengers returned home when the flight was cancelled.

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    Delta Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing at JFK Airport

    Delta Airlines flight DL-1894 made an emergency landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, on January 21st.

    The Airbus A320-200 plane heading from LaGuardia Airport, New York, to Boston, Massachusetts, was diverted due to a flaps problem.

    The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.

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    Delta Atlanta-DC flight, MD88 Engine Shut Down

    What: Delta Air Delta MD-88 en route from Atlanta to Washington DC
    Where: Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
    When: April 22, 2011 11:30
    Why: After takeoff, the plane experienced audible engine trouble loud enough to disturb the passengers, although there was no smoke. After a loud bang, the pilot shut down the affected engine.

    The pilot returned to Atlanta and made a safe landing. Passengers were in the air again on a replacement jet by 2 pm.

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