Corporate travel community ranks Delta No.1 US airline

Delta Air Lines earned the top overall score for an unprecedented seventh consecutive year in the Business Travel News (BTN) Airline Survey, sweeping all ten categories and improving on the scores achieved in 2016.

“Thank you to all the corporate travel managers that voted Delta the top airline for a seventh consecutive year. It truly is a recognition of the great work of all Delta’s 80,000 employees, who strive each day to deliver an industry-leading customer experience both on the ground and in the air, across the globe,” said Steve Sear, Delta’s President — International and Executive Vice President — Global Sales. “This distinction is also a credit to our worldwide airline partners who really are an extension of our team.”

BTN voters, who manage tens of billions of dollars in annual corporate travel spend, rate the U.S. carriers in the survey based on their perceptions of airline performance in negotiating and maintaining preferred programs, delivering service and providing value. It provides important validation of an airline’s efforts to offer the best experience for corporate customers and travel managers. No other airline has been selected seven consecutive times in the survey’s 20-year history.

“Our promise is to continually re-invent ourselves and innovate business travel by providing products, programs and services that meet our customers’ needs. We do this through focus groups and advisory board meetings, where we listen, act and listen again to our customers so we can truly shape the future of business travel,” said Bob Somers, Senior Vice President — Global Sales. “This innovative approach, as well as our world class sales team, is really what differentiates Delta from our competitors.”

Delta has once again delivered for its customers with its ongoing focus on operational reliability and the introduction of Operational Excellence Regional Reporting. Delta has evolved the Delta Edge offering with an enhanced Delta Professional portal, now available in 11 languages, as well as introduced the new Delta Edge Wallet.
Delta continues to simplify the contracting process with a consolidated and intuitive commercial pricing structure, along with initiatives to streamline the Request for Approval process and improve the speed to market. Furthermore, Delta now has a tool to enable Flight Attendants to more easily identify corporate travelers in addition to their name and SkyMiles Medallion status to offer personalized recognition adding value to their travel experience.

“We are honored and humbled to receive this recognition again,” said Kristen Shovlin, Vice President — Sales Operations and Development. “But we also see this achievement as a responsibility to keep delivering for our customers and continuing to exceed expectations. Thank you to our corporate travel manager partners for your continued trust, confidence and loyalty in allowing us to serve you and your travelers.”