DL CEO absent in meeting w/Trump/Qatari CEO
 

https://thepointsguy.com/news/president-trump-doesnt-side-us-airlines-white-house-meeting/

Anyone else think it would've been nice to have anyone from Delta there...?

Eh. It sounds like President Trumps mind was already made up and it likely it wouldn't have made a difference if Ed had showed up anyway. I absolutely despise that everyone is always concerned with doing things because of "optics..."

FROM THE ARTICLE:

One of the most vocal opponents of Middle Eastern airlines, Delta Air Lines, was absent from the meeting. According to Business Insider, Delta CEO Ed Bastian was unable to attend the meeting due to scheduling conflicts. President Trump shared his frustration with the absence of Bastian. Qatar Airways’ al-Baker also shared his disappointment, noting he had traveled all the way from Qatar to attend the meeting.

In a statement following the meeting, a White House official told reporters that “The real story is that Delta refused the invite.” The official went on to note that Bastian’s absence, “Didn’t help their [Delta] cause.”

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Interesting article. Why, after all the NON-STOP URGING FOR YEARS on Deltanet and Skyhub (yuck) to "contact your lawmakers" on this specific issue would our CEO be unable to make this high profile meeting?

Most curious.

The optimizer must have taken control of his schedule. He was rerouted to min rest and couldn’t make the meeting.

Well, if the White House says it, then it MUST be the absolute, 1000%, unequivocal, incontrovertible, indisputable, god's honest, swear on baby Jesus truth.

Invite probably got lost in the 200 emails that Karlene sent him this week demanding to meet with the board of directors because we don’t get crew meals, or we aren’t complying with her latest demand.

Even though you're joking, I wouldn't doubt the Dickson FAA situation had a lot to do with Delta not being there. Especially given that Trump wasn't going to side with the US carriers anyway.

Or his commute to DC was on GoJet.

I’m pretty sure the US carriers didn’t expect the Middle East carriers to be at the meeting. Maybe Ed got wind of it early.

There FIFY, there is very little "honesty" promulgated by anyone nowadays.

Might be, but it really makes it difficult for me to GAS about writing letters if our CEO won't even show up for a meeting with the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES to plead his case.