APEX is a network of the world’s leading airlines, airports, alliances, suppliers, and related companies committed to elevating the air travel experience for passengers.
Delta Air Lines Chief Executive Officer Ed Bastian, was recognized with the CEO Lifetime Achievement Award by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX), an international non-profit dedicated to enhancing the passenger experience. The honor is in recognition of Mr. Bastian’s steadfast leadership, outstanding dedication to the 75,000 global professionals at Delta, and his substantial impact on the worldwide aviation industry. The prestigious award is the first ever given to a U.S. airline CEO in APEX’s 42-year history as the leading international airline association for advancing customer experience.
During his tenure as Delta CEO, Mr. Bastian has taken innovative steps to enable growth and advancement for the airline. He was the first CEO of a top U.S. airline to approve the addition of a cabin of fully enclosed business class suites, led the U.S. market with the introduction of premium economy, added more in-flight entertainment screens to more aircraft than any other airline in the world during his tenure, and, earlier this year, became the first airline CEO to keynote the Consumer Electronics Show.
Mr. Bastian also walks the line between values and politics, in his words to “raise our voices when something goes against our beliefs, [and to] help amplify those who have been silenced.” Mr. Bastian was the first major U.S. airline CEO to come out against building a border wall with Mexico, ended Delta’s special discounts for “politically divisive” groups, and proudly took a leading role against racial injustice at the dawn of Black Lives Matter movement forwards fighting racial injustice.
In his more than two-decades with Delta, Mr. Bastian has exemplified the airline’s shared values of honesty, integrity, respect, perseverance, and servant leadership. This was never more apparent than during COVID-19 when his focus turned to the health, safety, and wellbeing of his Delta colleagues and passengers. Mr. Bastian took bold steps like blocking middle seats further into the future than any other airline, imposing regular testing for his team, and launching the Delta CareStandard – all with the goal of assuring a more reliable and safe travel experience.
“I believe Ed Bastian’s legacy as Chief Executive Officer of Delta will be remembered as advancing the golden age of airlines. His corporate philosophy is to invest in your people first and foremost; they, in turn, take virtuous care of their customers. That provides great returns to Delta, enabling further advancement for all,” said APEX CEO, Dr. Joe Leader. “The slogan for Delta is ‘keep climbing.’ No matter the force of the unexpected wind shear, Ed has relentlessly kept climbing fueled by his passion for employees, customers, and values.”
“Thank you for providing a lifetime achievement award… it’s humbling, especially for a small-town guy that didn’t step foot on an airplane until he was well into his business career to have had an opportunity to impact an industry, an airline, and our city here in Atlanta…” Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian stated as receiving the award at FTE APEX Virtual Expo broadcast worldwide this afternoon. “I am honored on behalf on behalf of all of our people to accept your award.”
Mr. Bastian currently serves as Chairman of the APEX/IFSA Board of Governors, a role he agreed to stay in for a second term in order to provide added stability during the pandemic. This exclusive group of airline CEOs and Presidents sets priorities for the airline industry in advancing customer experience worldwide.
Delta was among a single percentage of airlines rated Five Stars. The airline’s customer ratings continued climbing to new heights, even it the wake of COVID-19.
Four and Five Star recipients of the 2021 Official Airline Ratingw (All Listed in Alphabetical Order)
Five Star Global Airlines
- Aeromexico
- Air Canada
- Air New Zealand
- American Airlines
- Asiana Airlines
- Austrian Airlines
- China Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Emirates
- Etihad Airways
- Finnair
- Japan Airlines
- KLM
- Korean Air
- LATAM Airlines Group
- Lufthansa
- Qantas
- Qatar Airways
- SAS
- Saudia
- Singapore Airlines
- SWISS
- Thai Airways International
- Turkish Airlines
- United Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- Xiamen Airlines
- Five Star Major Airlines
- Aer Lingus
- Air Astana
- Air Tahiti Nui
- Alaska Airlines
- AVIANCA
- Copa Airlines
- Gulf Air
- JetBlue Airways
- Kuwait Airways
- Middle East Airlines
- Oman Air
- Philippine Airlines
- Virgin Australia
- WestJet
Five Star Regional Airlines
- JSX
Four Star Global Airlines
- Air France
- British Airways
- TAP Portugal
Four Star Major Airlines
- Air Transat
- Brussels Airlines
- Fiji Airways
- Royal Brunei Airlines
- SriLankan Airlines
Four Star Regional Airlines
- Aeromar
Four Star Low-Cost Carriers
- Citilink
- Frontier Airlines
- GoAir
- Southwest Airlines
- SpiceJet
- Spirit Airlines
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
