Originally Posted by flyallnite

Personally, after listening to the investor call, I am more convinced than ever that DL is embarking upon uncharted territory for an airline. As much as I'm disappointed at the lack of hiring and lack of a new widebody order, and the overall shrinkage at our company, I do think that something big is right around the corner.

I'm talking about "Big Data". If you aren't familiar with this term then I'd suggest you at least Google it because it's the next big thing. Like internet big. Maybe even bigger. There are a lot of things coming together in the world right now that are going to make possible things that we have struggled to even conceive.

The comments by RA regarding a large investment in revenue, product and strategic planning technology combined with the recent move towards ACARS 601 and other data collection points (such as the new website and app), the move towards a revenue based FF program, lead me to believe that with this new technology will come a top to bottom review of not only our business, but the entire industry and our position in it. Big Data will be put to use in determining what we are going to look like, where and what we will fly in 10 years. This isn't going to be done by some slimy consulting firm. It's going to be in-house and proprietary.

I think that until this review is complete, you'll see minimal aircraft orders and hiring at a pace to satisfy only a status quo. When it is complete, I think you're going to see a very different approach to our business, and I would expect it to be a very aggressive one.

I know all this sounds a bit far fetched, but it's happening right now in healthcare, engineering, manufacturing... practically every field you can think of and when the data finally catches up with the concept, it's going to be like flipping a switch. Boom. The future...