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Over the decades, the airline industry has had to grapple with the aftermath of several historical crises, including the Gulf War, 9/11, and the Great Recession. But none has unleashed as much economic devastation and created more uncertainty as the COVID-19 pandemic. Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, calls it \u201cthe defining crisis of our generation.\u201d To get through the early days of the pandemic, he knew the company had to move quickly and, above all else, protect the health and wellbeing of Delta\u2019s employees and customers. His guiding principle: a crisis doesn\u2019t build character, it reveals it. Bastian joins the podcast to give an inside look into how Delta is overcoming this once-in-a-lifetime crisis, the changes it\u2019s making to give customers peace of mind about flying again, and his outlook for the future of air travel in the years ahead.\n\nListen to this episode to learn:\n\u2022 Why safety protocols like keeping the middle seat empty give customers peace of mind and are an extension of the premium nature of Delta\u2019s brand \n\n\u2022 Why Bastian proudly says, \u201cWe\u2019ve never worked harder to accomplish so little yet achieve so much\u201d\n\n\u2022 What early booking data is suggesting about people\u2019s confidence to travel again\n\n\u2022 How a societal void in leadership has altered the role of CEO -- and why business leaders can no longer afford to sit on the political sidelines\n\n\u2022 Whether international travel alliances will weaken or strengthen post-pandemic \n\n\u2022 Why Delta remains committed to a sustainable future, spending $1 billion over the next 10 years to become the world\u2019s first carbon-neutral airline