Airline invests nearly $5 million in supplemental staffing at security checkpoints at 32 airports and first U.S. innovation lanes at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
ATLANTA – With summer quickly approaching, Delta Air Lines' 80,000 employees worldwide are helping to ease long security lines and serve both seasoned and first-time travelers.
Earlier this year, Delta and the Transportation Security Administration began collaborating to take steps to improve the security process at the national and airport levels. As a result, the airline is investing up to $4 million in additional staffing at 32 airports across the U.S. to supplement TSA staffing. Delta also invested nearly $1 million in the research, development and implementation of two new checkpoint lanes at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The redesigned lanes, which opened this week, are expected to increase throughput.
In a memo to Delta employees Wednesday, Chief Operating Officer Gil West thanked the team for their efforts to prepare for the busy summer operation as well as their operational performance to date.
"We can't stop pushing forward," West said. "Your work has set Delta apart from the pack. We are delivering unprecedented performance and we need your help to keep it going through the busy summer months. We want our customers to have a seamless experience from check-in to pick-up. To ensure this, we partnered with the TSA months ago to get a plan in place to support the increased customer volume."
Four things the airline is doing to help reduce TSA line wait times include:
- Staffing up – Providing staffing support at TSA checkpoints for tasks that will free up TSA inspectors to open additional checkpoint lanes at peak where possible or improve throughput. Delta intends to deploy employees or vendors in areas to manage lines, bins and other non-screening tasks. DELTA IS providing nearly $4 million in staffing solutions.
- Thinking differently – Lending subject matter expertise from industrial engineers and other areas to make recommendations on queue design and how checkpoints could be redesigned for a more optimal flow and ease of movement.
- Innovating – Redesigned, at Delta's expense, two checkpoint lanes at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. These lanes, a nearly $1 million investment for Delta, opened Tuesday and are expected to increase throughput.
- Giving customers a choice – Partnering with CLEAR to provide complimentary enrollment to Diamond Medallions and preferential pricing to SkyMiles members for expedited document check-in and biometric verification for priority queuing at hubs this year.
Additionally, Delta has created a video for customers noting travel tips provided by an Atlanta-based Airport Customer Service Employee.
Since Delta implemented supplemental staffing in early May, the airline has seen a 10 percent increase in throughput at TSA security lanes. Further shortening wait times, Delta's staffing support at 32 airports has allowed TSA to open nearly 30 additional lanes across the U.S. that would have gone unstaffed.
Delta launches year-round service from New York-JFK to Edinburgh
Also, Delta Air Lines will launch its new nonstop flight between New York's John F. Kennedy airport and Edinburgh, Scotland, offering more on-board amenities than any other airline serving this route. The new year-round service extends Delta's U.K. network into Scotland.
"Delta connects our customers to the world with more flights from New York than any other carrier, and we are proud to add Edinburgh to our global network," said Henry Kuykendall, Delta's Vice President – New York.
"We're looking forward to bringing thousands more American visitors to Scotland," said Frank Jahangir, Delta's Vice President – Sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa. "As the only year-round nonstop flight between New York and Edinburgh, we are confident that the route will expand trade and tourism opportunities. VisitScotland statistics estimate that the new flight has the potential to bring an additional £23 million to the Scottish tourism industry in one year alone."
According to the U.K.'s Office for National Statistics, the United States is the number-one inbound tourism market to Scotland, with nearly a half-million visitors in 2014 – an increase of 100,000 compared to the previous year. Overall tourism expenditure in the country stood around $14 billion in 2014.
"Scottish tourism punches above its weight on the world stage, and this new Delta service from New York to Edinburgh will be another fantastic boost, strengthening our connectivity in the North American market by unlocking Delta's vast domestic network," said Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland.
Delta's New York to Edinburgh service will initially be operated using a 163-seat Boeing 757-200ER, with a larger 210-seat widebody Boeing 767-300ER during the summer months, effective June 8, 2016. Beginning September 5, 2016, the 757-200ER will operate on the route.
"This direct new route between New York and Edinburgh is a great statement of confidence from Delta both in New York and in Scotland," said Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport. "It is further confirmation of Edinburgh Airport's position as the leader for connectivity from the U.S. to Scotland. I congratulate Delta for recognizing the growing international demand for direct links to Edinburgh."
All flights from New York to Edinburgh will be equipped with Wi-Fi, allowing customers to stay connected at 30,000 feet, in addition to complimentary on-demand in-flight entertainment in all cabins. Movies and TV shows can also be downloaded to tablet and laptop devices.
Customers flying in Delta Comfort+, Delta's premium economy service, benefit from up to four additional inches of legroom and 50 percent more recline than Main Cabin seats, as well as priority boarding. Furthermore, Delta's flights from New York to Edinburgh feature fully flat-bed seats in the Delta One cabin, with Westin Heavenly Inflight Bedding from Westin Hotels & Resorts and TUMI amenity kits featuring products by MALIN + GOETZ. Customers enjoy a range of regional dining options in the Delta One cabin, with menu items produced using seasonal ingredients and paired with wines selected exclusively for Delta by Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson.
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.
