From one of the largest bankruptcies in U.S. history to leading the industry in market capitalization and premium customer satisfaction, Delta Air Lines has rewritten the business of flying in the last two decades.
In this episode, Fortune's Editor-in-Chief Alyson Shontell sits down with CEO Ed Bastian at Delta’s Atlanta headquarters to discuss the strategic maneuvers behind the airline’s resurgence. Bastian details his 'people-first' leadership philosophy, the evolution of the lucrative American Express partnership, and his vision for the future of travel, from AI-powered concierge services to the launch of flying taxis.
00:00 Intro
01:36 Advertisement
03:05 Bastian’s personal background
04:21 Executive training at Pepsi
06:14 Uncovering fraud at J. Walter Thompson
07:23 Delta files for bankruptcy
8:08 Bastian’s return to Delta
09:43 Delta’s turnaround playbook
11:37 Delta’s post-bankruptcy restructuring
13:55 Billion-dollar profit-sharing program
15:36 Sharing wealth with employees
16:21 Bastian’s people-first commitment
16:48 Becoming a CEO
17:45 Transitioning from CFO to CEO
19:04 Becoming comfortable as a CEO
19:45 Shifting communication styles as CEO
21:40 Staying in the know
22:13 Leading employees through down times
24:32 Bastian’s no-furlough strategy
26:06 Delta / AMEX partnership
29:14 Credit card interest rates
30:25 Creating brand trust and loyalty
33:39 Delta’s next 100 years
34:14 Balancing AI with people
36:56 Staying updated on AI
38:13 AI’s impact on air travel
39:15 Sustainable travel
40:08 Flying taxis
40:57 Delta’s five-to-ten year strategy
42:04 Bastian’s leadership advice
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