Delta COO John Laughter Shares the Keys to Delivering Passengers with Speed, Safety & Comfort
President Gordon Martin and Rotarian John Kemp with John Laughter
On June 12, 2024, the Rotary Club of Birmingham (RCB) This week the Rotary Club of Birmingham welcomed John Laughter, Delta Air Lines EVP & Chief of Operations. The 28-year Delta leader provided an overview of the nearly 100-year-old airline's operations focused on speed, safety and comfort, with over 100,000 employees and 5,000+ daily flights worldwide. He explained the commitments that enable Delta to rise to best-in-class status amongst competitors, with strong operations resulting in satisfied customers, premium revenue and a trusted global brand.
"Our success is driven by the customer experience,” Laughter said. “We're focused on running a safe, clean, on-time operation with your bags, delivering high customer experience. And then bringing with it all the things that on top that make this just an absolutely outstanding consumer experience.
Bio for John Laughter
John Laughter is Executive Vice President & Chief of Operations. He leads the teams responsible for industry-leading safe, reliable operations across the globe with oversight of Corporate Safety, Security and Compliance; Crew Resources; Flight Operations; Operations Analysis & Performance; Operations & Customer Center; Subsidiary Airlines; and Technical Operations, including Delta TechOps Services Group (DTSG).
John directly oversees Delta Air Lines’ 14,000+ pilots and its global flying operations supported by more than 300 professionals who manage pilot staffing, training and standards, technical support and regulatory compliance.
John is a long-time safety advocate and previously served as Delta’s Senior Vice President – Corporate Safety, Security and Compliance. He directed the airline’s overall safety, security, quality, and environmental performance and kept focused on Delta’s top priority of safety first.
A 29-year Delta veteran, John began his career as an aircraft liaison engineer and held various leadership positions in Technical Operations, including Interiors Engineering, Aircraft Acquisitions, Materials and Planning, and ultimately was appointed Senior Vice President – Technical Operations.
John previously chaired the Georgia Tech Aerospace Engineering School Advisory Board and served as a member of the Atlanta Habitat for Humanity Board. He is currently on the Georgia Tech Flying Club Board and the Board of Visitors of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit.
John holds a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from Emory University's Goizueta Business School.
John and his wife, Angela, are the proud parents of four sons and reside in Atlanta, Ga.