Latest news with #Bastian
Mint
4 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Delta Sees Demand Ticking Up Again After ‘Choppy' First Months
(Bloomberg) -- Delta Air Lines Inc. Chief Executive Officer Ed Bastian said he's more confident about demand in the second half of the year after price-sensitive passengers in the US showed restraint in recent months amid a worsening economic climate. Demand should 'tick up a bit' in the period, Bastian said in an interview with Bloomberg Television in New Delhi on Sunday. That's after Delta suffered weakness in bookings predominantly in the US market and among leisure travelers in its main cabin earlier this year, he said. 'There's no question in the short term, with what we've seen coming out of Washington and the challenges of the trade negotiations, it's choppy at the moment,' Bastian said. 'I don't think that's going to be long lasting. We are pushing through and getting to a place of some stability.' Bastian said that travel on the North Atlantic route is doing well, and while there's some weakness in the main coach cabin, yields in the front end of the aircraft remain strong. In March, Delta slashed its first-quarter profit guidance and reduced its outlook for revenue growth and operating margin, in a sharp reversal from the start of the year, when Bastian trumpeted a steady demand environment. The company is due to report earnings in early July. The aviation industry has been thrust into uncharted territory with the risk of tariffs, because airlines and manufacturers were long insulated from any levies given the global nature of the business. Delta has said that it doesn't want to absorb the cost of tariffs on aircraft that it's taking from Airbus SE, putting it on a possible collision course with the European manufacturer, which has also said it won't pay for the duties. 'We're very close partners with Airbus,' Bastian said. 'This time will pass, and there will be a new world order of some nature.' More stories like this are available on
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
IndiGo expands network with Air France-KLM, Virgin Atlantic, Delta deal
Agencies New Delhi India's largest airline IndiGo has entered an agreement with Air France-KLM, Virgin Atlantic and Delta to expand its long-haul services to North America, Europe and Britain, the airlines said on Sunday. IndiGo has an extensive domestic network in India, the world's third-largest air passenger market, and is expanding its international reach. The Reuters Tariff Watch newsletter is your daily guide to the latest global trade and tariff news. Sign up here. Separately IndiGo also said it would convert 30 out of 70 options for Airbus A350 jets into firm orders for new planes. Once the airline partnership is complete, IndiGo will be able to sell flights under its own name on those operated by its partners out of India, and onward travel from Amsterdam and Manchester, UK, on selected flights to Europe and North will start flying to Amsterdam and Manchester from July. Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic already code-share on IndiGo's domestic flights. The Delta partnership is new. US carrier Delta has not flown to India since the pandemic. CEO Ed Bastian told media at an airline summit in New Delhi that Delta will restart direct services from the United States to India over the next couple of years. 'There's not a more important market in aviation at the present time than in India,' Bastian said. Delta is planning nonstop flights between Atlanta and Delhi, subject to government approval, a joint statement said. IndiGo is hosting the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) annual meeting in New Delhi from Sunday. IndiGo is aiming to grow its fleet to 600 aircraft by 2030, from more than 400 currently, and has been leasing aircraft to tide it over aircraft delivery delays and expand internationally. It recently said it will lease six Boeing 787 wide-body jets from Norse Atlantic Airways by early next year. India's aviation regulator said last week it would only extend an existing leasing arrangement IndiGo has with Turkish Airlines to the end of August. The arrangement has been publicly criticised in India after Turkey came out in support of Pakistan during the recent conflict between the two South Asian neighbours.
Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Delta Air CEO blasts outdated air traffic control
Fear of flying is very common. In fact, it affects about 25 million adults in the U.S., according to Cleveland Clinic. Notably, research suggests it is possible for someone to fly without any unease for years, and then develop aerophobia. The number of worldwide airline flights increased continuously since the early 2000s to reach 38.9 million in 2019. The Covid pandemic slowed things down in 2020. Related: Explora Journeys gives guests a front-row seat to the ultimate Formula 1 race The industry has been quickly recovering since, and it is projected to reach 40 million flights in 2025, according to Statista. When it comes to fear of flying, to people who suffer from it, statistics don't matter. According to the Civil Aviation Organization, chances of dying in a plane crash are one in 11 million. This compares to the odds of being in a car crash, which are one in 5,000. In other words, flying is safe. And it is one of the most convenient ways of traveling, especially long distances. However, recent delays and chaos at Newark Liberty International Airport have not only inconvenienced passengers, but also raised safety concerns among some travelers. One of the busiest airports in the U.S., Newark Liberty International Airport has been experiencing significant delays and cancelations due to a combination of issues including staffing shortages, an outdated air traffic control system, runway closure, and technical disruptions, writes The New York Times. Two recent radar outages raised frequent travelers' concerns, especially because they followed two big U.S. airline crashes earlier in this year. A recent poll reveals that 65% of Americans feel more anxious about flying now. Are their concerns justified? Is traveling from and to Newark airport safe? According to Delta Air Lines (DAL) CEO Ed Bastian, it is completely safe. In a recent interview with Today, Bastian said, "It is absolutely safe. It's the safest form of transportation in the world. The most skilled aviation professionals in the world work and operate the United States airspace." More on travel: American Airlines reverses unpopular policy, angers workersDelta Air Lines makes a baggage change that travelers will likeMajor airline debuts holiday platform for North Americans However, he further highlighted that even though flying is safe, these current conditions are unacceptable. According to Bastian, outdated equipment slows everything down. Bastian illustrated the extent of the problem with the following shocking example: "Today, it takes longer in our schedule to fly from Atlanta to La Guardia than it did in the 1950s, when we opened that route." Bastian suggested that the congestion could be resolved with modernization of the skies, "bringing greater efficiency." He said modernization should involve using satellite technologies and GPS, in addition to updating the radar and radio systems from the 1960s that air traffic controllers are still using. Meanwhile, Delta's financials reflect broader industry concerns. The company recently reported first-quarter 2025 earnings results with non-GAAP operating revenue of $12.98 billion, compared to $12.56 billion in the same period of 2024. However, the company's updated outlook for the year draws the most focus from investors. Just a quarter ago, Delta Air Lines had anticipated unprecedented profits, but those projections have since been revised. In an interview with CNBC, Bastian pointed to a decline in overall consumer and business confidence. Softer-than-anticipated bookings led the airline to scrap its planned 3% to 4% increase in flights for the latter half of 2025. Instead, flight capacity will remain steady through the end of the year. Related: Iconic Disney World attraction enters its final days More recently, the company announced a $330 million investment to acquire a 15% stake in Canadian WestJet. Year-to-date, Delta Air Lines stock price is down 13.24%, trading at $51.25. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Delta CEO says air traffic control systems are so outdated that some commercial flight routes were faster in the 1950s than they are today
Delta CEO Ed Bastian said air traffic control systems in the U.S. are so antiquated it actually takes longer to fly certain routes today than it did in the 1950s. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy even compared the old equipment to something you'd see on the set of Apollo 13. Duffy and President Donald Trump recently unveiled a plan to update the air traffic control system in the U.S. During the past couple of weeks, chronic flight delays and cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport have revealed a litany of problems with antiquated air traffic control systems. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy even said earlier this week some of the decades-old computer equipment air traffic controllers use looks like it came off the set of Apollo 13, and compared it to a 1967 Volkswagen Beetle. And on Thursday, Delta CEO Ed Bastian revealed that, due to aging air traffic control systems, it actually takes longer today to fly from Atlanta to LaGuardia than it did in the 1950s when the airline opened that route. 'That's the air traffic control system. It's very slow. It's congested,' Bastian told TODAY. 'If you modernize the skies, you can kind of bring greater efficiency.' By modernizing the skies, Bastian means using satellite technology, the latest state-of-the-art equipment, and GPS. But currently, air traffic controllers have to use a radar point-and-shoot system from the 1960s. 'The screens look like something out of the 1960s and '70s,' Bastian said. 'Our controllers and our operators need the best in order to keep us safe and make sure it maintains its safety record.' Delta didn't respond to Fortune's request for further comment. Despite a barrage of emergency landings, machinery failure, a collision, and other air traffic control failures in the airline industry reported this year, Bastian insists it's still safe to fly. 'It is absolutely safe. It's the safest form of transportation in the world,' Bastian said. 'The most skilled aviation professionals in the world work and operate the U.S. airspace. So it is absolutely safe.' But just because it's safe doesn't mean it's acceptable for the U.S. to have such antiquated technology operating its airspace, Bastian said. Although there is bipartisan support to modernize America's air traffic control system, it's a process that requires a lot of time and money. On May 8, Duffy and President Donald Trump announced a plan to build a brand-new air traffic control system 'that will be the envy of the world.' The plan includes replacing outdated infrastructure with wireless and satellite technologies at more than 4,600 air traffic control sites, building six new air traffic coordination centers, and replacing towers and terminal radar approach control (TRACONs). 'Our antiquated air traffic control system is affecting our workforce,' the Federal Aviation Administration said in a May 5 statement. 'As Secretary Duffy has said, we must get the best safety technology in the hands of controllers as soon as possible.' Reuters reported in late March the FAA was short about 3,500 air traffic controllers. Neither Duffy nor Trump have revealed exactly how much that plan will cost. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, though, estimates it could cost $12.5 billion, but Duffy said he estimates it'll cost more than that. The Modern Skies Coalition, an umbrella group for aviation industry groups, estimated it would cost $31 billion or more to accomplish Duffy's plans. But in the short term, the airline industry is making adjustments to improve flight delays and cancellations that result from air traffic control problems. Many airlines are pulling down their operations at Newark, Bastian said, which reduces some of the congestion at the airport. 'Now, that's not good in the long run. It's not good for consumers,' Bastian said. 'It's not good for the airport itself, but it's the only thing that we have in the meantime.' This story was originally featured on
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Delta CEO says one of its most popular routes was faster in the 1950s than today — and antiquated air traffic control is to blame
Most commercial flights today are faster than they were decades ago, but not always. Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said flying from Atlanta to New York actually takes longer today than in the 1950s. He said old air traffic control systems are to blame, amid chaos at Newark that's caused mass delays and cancellations. You wouldn't expect your commercial flight today to take longer than it would've decades ago, but Delta's CEO said that's the case lately for at least one major flight route. A Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta, where the carrier is headquartered, to LaGuardia airport in New York City takes longer today than it did when the airline began offering the route in the 1950s, Ed Bastian said Thursday on "The Today Show." Delta typically offers at least a dozen flights daily that originate in Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson and arrive in LaGuardia. The shortest of these typically takes around 2 hours and 13 minutes. "What happens is in order to keep it safe everything gets slowed down at the sign of any kind of risk," he said. Asked why the flight takes longer today, Bastian responded, "That's the air traffic control system. It's very slow, it's congested but it's not congested; there's plenty of space if you modernize the skies and you can kind of bring greater efficiency." Key to modernizing the skies would be using satellite technologies and GPS, he said, in addition to updating the radar and radio systems from the 1960s that air traffic controllers are still using. Delta did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Duffy said in Sunday's interview that he is "concerned about the whole airspace" in the United States because the equipment used by most airports is now outdated. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently spoke about the issue on "Meet the Press," saying he was "concerned about the whole airspace" in the country because of the antiquated equipment. "The equipment that we use, much of it we can't buy parts for new," Duffy said. "We have to go on eBay and buy parts if one part goes down. You're dealing with really old equipment. We're dealing with copper wires, not fiber, not high-speed fiber, and so this is concerning." Bastian called on additional investment from Congress to fund the modernization. Another major airport in the New York metropolitan area, Newark Liberty International Airport in neighboring New Jersey, has recently been experiencing mass delays and cancellations affecting thousands of travelers. "It's slowing everything down, taking stress out of the system," Bastian said of Newark. "Now that's not good in the long run, it's not good for consumers, it's not good for the airport itself but it's the only thing that we have in the meantime." The airport has seen massive disruptions since late April, caused by a shortage of air traffic control staff, some equipment outages, the closure of the main runway for construction, and rainy weather. Read the original article on Business Insider
