One of the “moderators” closed a thread about VP Biden’s remarks telling people not to get on an aircraft or a subway, saying the thread was political and not relevant to aviation. However you will let a 30 page rant continue aimlessly out of control in the regional forums about whose crappy regional airline is better than who’s…. Or who’s a scab or not when there was never a strike. Well what Biden said did directly affect our aviation industry! Here is a copy of the letter that the CEO of the world’s largest airline sent to the White House because those remarks were relevant to aviation.

Richard H. Anderson
Chief Executive Officer

April 30, 2009

The Honorable Joseph “Joe” Biden, Jr.
Vice President of the United States
Eisenhower Executive Office Bldg.
1650 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20501

Dear Mr. Vice President:

Delta’s employees have rallied through this financial crisis to build the world’s largest airline. Despite a difficult economic environment, Delta has succeeded without any frontline, involuntary employee layoffs. Our goal is to weather this economy without layoffs. There has been no interruption in employee pension benefit plan contributions, shared reward payments, pay raises have continued and there have been no increases to employee health care premiums.

We are proud of what we’ve accomplished, but amid this difficult economic situation your suggestion that air travel is unsafe due to the H1N1 flu outbreak is harmful and threatens to have a negative impact on the airline industry at this critical time. We would respectfully request that government and industry follow the professional direction of the CDC, as we are doing.
Obviously, if one is feeling sick they should not go to work, attend school or travel. But for those who are feeling well, it is important for you and the White House to reassure travelers that there is no reason to be concerned.
Our employees have met the challenge posed by this flu outbreak to ensure that our aircraft are clean and that operations of our airline pose no health risk to our customers or employees.

While Secretary Napolitano and other administration officials have affirmed that public transportation is safe, we ask that you further clarify your remarks to reassure the public that commercial air travel is safe and that there is no need for unnecessary panic and the unneeded economic disruption that would inevitably follow. We support and appreciated the administration's leadership on the Stimulus Package and do not want the economic recovery it will stimulate to be dwarfed by this event.

Sincerely,
Richard H. Anderson

cc: Rahm Emanuel, Chief of Staff to the President
Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President
Honorable Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation