Originally Posted by
PIONEER
WOW I can't believe I missed this thread until now. I agree with all the positive comments, and they certainly remind of better times. At the same time, it's been tough for the industry since 9-11, but I do give DL credit for doing well under difficult circumstances.
In particular, DL continues to have the best people in the domestic business. I think it is a real credit to them that things are doing OK these days (and certainly better than many other US based carries), although I can't imagine that it will ever be as great as it was in the 80's and 90's. I did just a few flights in the 70's, and those and the 80's were really the days. After a few thousand flights since 1980 (mostly on DL) I think I've seen most of the continuum, and I'm hoping that we've bottomed out and will continue upward.
Delta started sinking the day Leo Mullin and Vicki Escarra moved in. DL was already three quarters down the hill before 9/11. The two CTO agents I knew were "retired" and they probably were responsible for more revenue out of AUS than all of the other agents combined. Mullin was the first top exec who hadn't been promoted from within and knew nothing about the DL culture. If you want to lose your most recent meal, check out this article on Miss Vicki.
http://www.womenlookingahead.com/pag...i_escarra.html