Delta's Ed Bastian: Making Travel Magical

Nov 8, 2023

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian talks about how the COVID-19 pandemic helped build brand loyalty, his conviction to take tough stands and how he sees sustainability shaping the future of air travel.

WATCH: Ravi Shanker speaks with Ed Bastian

   

Delta Air Lines is looking to revive the glory days of travel with a premium experience in the sky. Under Ed Bastian, who took over as CEO in 2016, Delta has improved the customer experience and grown revenue, while also navigating the operational challenges and microenvironment that come with running any airline. The result has been double-digit operating margins – a benchmark for major U.S. carriers.

 

In the latest episode of Exceptional Leaders / Exceptional Ideas, Freight Transportation & Airlines analyst Ravi Shanker sits down with Bastian to talk about everything from his advice on making hard decisions, to how it's possible to bring back the golden era of travel while keeping it accessible.

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Watch other episodes in this series from Morgan Stanley Research, as the firm’s equity analysts sit down with business leaders at world-class global companies to unpack broad foundational changes in sectors, industries and markets.

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