‘We are going back to basics’

Thus said Delta Airlines Asia Pacific managing director Jeffrey Bernier at the weekly meeting of the Rotary Club of Saipan at Hyatt Regency Saipan yesterday.

According to Bernier, going back to basics means an emphasis on the fact that they are in the service industry. “We need to do the right things for our employees and we need to do the right things for our customers.”

Delta Air Lines Asia Pacific managing director Jeffrey Bernier updates the Rotary Club of Saipan on Delta’s plans, accomplishments, and operations. (Jayson Camacho)

Bernier said that Delta has been spending a significant amount of money to improve their customers’ overall travel experience.

“We have been investing significantly throughout the travel rhythm in technology and also our onboard service,” Bernier said.

He also noted that they have created an airline that is sustainable, with a positive cash flow and consistent debt service.

“Most recently we have announced that we are paying our dividend to our shareholder and we are buying back the stock,” Bernier said. “We are in a very good position financially and operationally.”

According to him, Delta is running a very strong airline from a comp time perspective and all of Delta’s operational stats for all global network carriers rank No. 1.

Operational updates

Bernier’s speech highlighted the operational updates that Delta is going through now and is planning in areas that involve the CNMI.

“We have recently decided that we will change the configuration of our Boeing 757 from 174 seats to 199 seats on each of those services,” Bernier said.

According to him, they will be providing new seats and that each seat will have a personal audiovisual on demand that provides over 200 video programs that are at “your finger tip.”

The increased number of seats on the 757 aircraft will come from a reduction in the number of business class seats. Bernier noted that this might not sound a lot but it is estimated to result in more than 15,000 additional seats to the CNMI a year.

Bernier also noted that the average tourist from Japan is charged roughly around $945.

“That creates over $15,000,000 a year in economic benefit. But it doesn’t stop there because there is the trickle down effect, which in the CNMI is estimated at 1.5. So therefore these new seats and these new investment that we are making has a potential to bring an additional $22,000 a year,” Bernier said.

He conceded, though, that Delta is not planning to add more flights to the CNMI just yet.

“The market is still not strong enough for that. But we are still looking at additional activities,” Bernier said.

Flight updates

When asked if Delta has any plan to provide airline services between Saipan and Guam, Bernier said it is a very low market but they will look into it.

Bernier later told reporters that the flights between Guam and Saipan are currently not in their plans.

“But we are always looking at healthy competition and new opportunities. We also owe it to our customers and shareholders to serve markets that could be sustainable not just in the short term but also in the long term,” Bernier said.