Originally Posted by Podracer

This is the only explanation that makes sense.
It takes time for the self destructive cost cutting to have consequences that reach outside the department, be communicated to the executives in a presentation or some such, time for deliberation, then time to send a message back down from the executives to the scheduling department that their actions are having dire effects on the rest of the company.

It's not just Delta and not just the personalities of one or two managers. All companies go through these cycles, often to their own self destruction. It's infuriating to watch even when your life doesn't depend on the company like we do.