Question · Q3 2025
Catie O’Brien asked CFO Dan Janki about Delta's unit cost performance, specifically the efficiency gains from growing into its workforce, fleet, and airport assets, and what stage of efficiency growth the company is in. She also followed up on the domestic main cabin turning positive, asking for more color, the year-over-year change in domestic main cabin seats, and how retrofits for Delta Comfort seats contribute to the premium seat mix into next year.
Answer
CFO Dan Janki stated that Delta is in the early to middle innings of efficiency growth, with long-term potential from growing into its workforce, generational airports, fleet renewal, and technology. President Glen Hauenstein explained that premiumization is driven by both retrofits (accounting for 25-30% of incremental premium seats) and new aircraft deliveries. He noted that domestic main cabin seats are relatively flat year-over-year, and the positive inflection is supported by capacity rationalization in many of Delta's hubs.