of the finest real estate professionals in the business. Delta people prove, again and again, that they are world class problem solvers as we work to deliver an elevated airport experience for our customers.
Q: Delta is not an official sponsor of the major soccer tournament this summer, but Atlanta is a host city, and several other host cities are major Delta hubs, including Los Angeles, Seattle, and the New York area airports. With cities preparing to welcome a large number of visitors this summer, how does Delta think about readiness in those markets?
At Delta, we think about readiness through the lens of our peak summer operation. Summer is always our busiest season and our planning, staffing, and infrastructure are built around performing at a high level when demand is at its highest. That approach doesn’ t change based on any single event.
From a Corporate Real Estate perspective, to use a sports cliché: we were built for this. Over the past decade, Delta has invested billions of dollars in airport redevelopment and modernization projects in host cities like Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Boston, and Seattle. Those investments— new terminals, concourses, gate areas, and expanded Sky Clubs— are designed to improve the customer experience, add capacity, and increase resiliency during peak travel periods.
These projects are generational. They’ re not about one season or one event— they reflect a long-term commitment to design and build infrastructure that elevates the customer experience for decades to come. No one better connects the world – this summer and for years to come.
Q: Airports involve many stakeholders, including airlines, airport authorities, and federal agencies. How does Delta think about facility design and long term planning to improve customer experience during peak travel periods?
IN THE PROFESSION
Facility design matters as well. Modern terminals, improved baggage handling systems, and thoughtfully designed gate and Delta Sky Club spaces all contribute to efficiently handling large customers volumes. Many recent hub redevelopment projects were planned with peak demand in mind, ensuring that the physical footprint of the airport can support high volumes without sacrificing an elevated customer experience.
Q: You’ ve spent your career supporting a company that is synonymous with Atlanta and global travel. What does it mean to you, personally, to practice law in house at Delta Air Lines?
For me, it’ s both personal and professional. As a lawyer, my role is to help enable the great work of our business partners— to support sound decision making, manage risk thoughtfully, and help teams move forward with confidence.
Being able to do that for a company I believe in, and in my hometown of, is a great privilege. I’ ve traveled the world on Delta— as a child, as a student, as an attorney in private practice, and now both as in-house counsel and as a proud husband and father of four children. I feel a sense of pride every time I walk through one of our airports or see our widget on the tail of an aircraft. Most importantly, my wife and four kids love flying Delta jets as much as I do!
Finally, practicing in house at Delta is deeply rewarding because of the people. You’ re surrounded by talented, thoughtful professionals who care deeply about the safety and experience of our customers— whether they are pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, engineers, or lawyers. Everyone understands that the operation we support has a real impact on the lives of millions of people every day. I genuinely believe that our Law Department supports the best people in the business and the greatest airline in the world!
Delta’ s approach starts with the idea that the airport experience is a critical part of the overall journey, particularly during peak travel periods. From a Corporate Real Estate perspective, that means focusing on long term investments in facilities and technology that help make the airport experience more seamless, intuitive, and resilient at scale.
Technology plays an important role in that strategy, but not for its own sake. We leverage technology to remove pain points— ticketing, bag drop, security— one friction point at a time. These tools are deployed in close partnership with airport operators and government authorities, and they work best when integrated into facilities designed to support efficient movement and clear wayfinding. The goal isn’ t novelty; it’ s making the experience feel efficient and intuitive at scale. www. atlantabar. org THE ATLANTA LAWYER 11