Note: Nine years ago today, Delta Air Lines formally emerged from bankruptcy protection; and this article is the second of a series of articles which I first wrote nine years ago today.
T oday is the first of two days that — to a Delta forum FlyerTalk member — promises to be the equivalent of being a child in a candy store or toy store.
I am going to report on the events regarding the emergence of Delta Air Lines from bankruptcy. While the emergence from approximately 19 months of being in bankruptcy is certainly no secret, today is the day when Delta Air Lines will announce it officially. Today is the day for which virtually everyone remotely associated with Delta Air Lines has been eagerly anticipating, whether that person is a Delta Air Lines employee or a passenger, from the leisure traveller to the vaunted Platinum Medallion SkyMiles member.
Today’s the day.
There is one thing that I would like to note here before I head on down to the events today: I originally was scheduled to fly today on Delta Air Lines between Baltimore and Los Angeles. This was significant to me because I was on a Continental Airlines flight back in the early 1990s when they officially announced their emergence from bankruptcy. I remember them serving champagne on board to everyone, and I understand that they did this on every flight that day. I was going to celebrate the emergence of Delta Air Lines from bankruptcy in a similar fashion by flying on a Delta Air Lines flight today. After all, what better support can one give to an airline by being a paying passenger?
I was literally in the middle of drafting a letter of early congratulations to Jim Whitehurst, Chief Operating Officer of Delta Air Lines, and Jeff Robertson, Managing Director of the Delta Air Lines SkyMiles program, when I first received a message regarding my attendance to the events that will occur today and tomorrow.
As I currently understand it, I will get the opportunity to meet them again and congratulate them personally. I originally met them during the Velvet Rope Tour in Atlanta last year.
Needless to say, I never did finish that letter…
Media attention from all over the world descended on Atlanta nine years ago today to cover the emergence of Delta Air Lines from bankruptcy protection. Photograph ©2007 by Brian Cohen.
