Skift Take
It is rare that CEOs of airlines talk about their digital efforts in so much granular detail at investor conferences, so it is informative to hear Anderson's words around mobile and in-flight wi-fi.
Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson spoke today at the investment bank Rutberg’s Global Summit today, and spent a lot of time talking about his company’s efforts around digital in-flight and its mobile apps.
As the largest airline in U.S., Delta’s digital efforts around in-flight wi-fi, inflight entertainment, mobile check-ins are keenly watched around the aviation world, and his remarks, most of which came out through tweets from his session, are pointed enough to give some sense of their overall efforts.
Anderson said that the Delta mobile apps across iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows Mobile generates tens of millions of dollars in revenues for the company, which in this context means flight bookings coming through the app. His figure on 90% of checking-in happening on mobile will certainly turn some heads.
UPDATE: A Delta spokesperson says 90% of Delta’s check-ins are digital, including from Delta.com, kiosks and mobile. Although the percentage varies week to week, some 20% of Delta’s digital check-ins come from mobile.
Delta CEO at #rutberg14 : Tens of millions of dollars of revenue comes from our mobile apps
— Ina Fried (@inafried) March 26, 2014
Delta CEO Richard Anderson: 90% of checking in done on mobile. #rutberg14
— Lixin Cheng (@clxala) March 26, 2014
Delta CEO's practicality and faith on existing, scalable services stands in contrast to a lot of future talk from #rutberg14
— Roger Cheng (@RogerWCheng) March 26, 2014
Delta CEO's insistence on real-world apps and services over "hackathons" and LinkedIn group things draws big laugh. #rutberg14
— Roger Cheng (@RogerWCheng) March 26, 2014
Delta CEO says it's not technically possible to do normal WiFi on all planes yet — they still need to launch satellites. #rutberg14
— Roger Cheng (@RogerWCheng) March 26, 2014
Delta CEO says 5 years before we get to the point where everyone on a plane gets WiFi at normal speeds. #rutberg14
— Roger Cheng (@RogerWCheng) March 26, 2014
Delta CEO on watching TV while looking at your phone or tablet: I do it a bit differently; I still use pen and paper. Gets laughs #rutberg14
— Roger Cheng (@RogerWCheng) March 26, 2014
Delta CEO on the idea of giving Google Glass to flight attendants: "Oh, I don't know." (not enthusiastic) #rutberg14
— Roger Cheng (@RogerWCheng) March 26, 2014
Delta CEO: Our apps capabilities are nice but we want to provide real time decision management. You take control of your travel. #rutberg14
— lisawest (@lisawest) March 26, 2014
Delta CEO: It's one thing to have a cute app, but it's another to have an app that creates value for customers. #rutberg14
— Roger Cheng (@RogerWCheng) March 26, 2014
Delta CEO Richard Anderson says social media agents are here to help if you "do that hashtag thing." Admits he's not into social #rutberg14
— Roger Cheng (@RogerWCheng) March 26, 2014
CEO Delta: Mobile has a role to play in every facet of our biz – not only our customers but operationally as well. #rutberg14
— lisawest (@lisawest) March 26, 2014
Delta CEO wants you to get a better grasp on travel. Texts on your next gate when you arrive at a layover airport or upgrade opp. #rutberg14
— Roger Cheng (@RogerWCheng) March 26, 2014
I want you to do things that really let you take control of your travel- Richard Anderson, Delta CEO, on mobile offerings #rutberg14
— Louis Gump (@louisgump) March 26, 2014
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Tags: apps, delta air lines, in-flight, wi-fi
Photo credit: Delta's iPad app.