Delta Air Lines President Glen Hauenstein will retire on February 28 after a long career with the company, according to an internal announcement from Delta CEO Ed Bastian. Joe Esposito, currently Senior Vice President – Network Planning, Pricing and Revenue Management, will succeed Hauenstein as Executive Vice President – Chief Commercial Officer.
“Glen’s vision and strategic mindset have been essential in transforming Delta into the leading global airline we are today,” Bastian stated in his memo.
Hauenstein played a key role in expanding Delta’s global network and increasing its revenue premium, helping establish the airline as a top choice for premium travelers. “I could not have asked for a better co-pilot to help lead Delta in becoming the best performing airline in the world,” Bastian said.
Hauenstein will remain with the company as a strategic advisor through the end of next year. Since joining Delta in 2005, he led efforts to grow the carrier from primarily domestic routes to serving six continents. This growth was supported by joint venture partnerships with airlines such as Virgin Atlantic, Air France-KLM, Latam, Aeromexico, and Korean Air.
Delta Air Lines is a publicly traded company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The carrier operates more than 350 destinations worldwide across multiple continents using aircraft from Airbus and Boeing manufacturers. It serves millions of customers annually via an extensive international network that provides both passenger and cargo services. More details about its operations can be found on its official website.
Hauenstein also contributed to building commercial teams that helped deliver consistent profitability for Delta year after year. He has prior industry experience at Alitalia and Continental Airlines and holds a degree from Stetson University.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve the people and customers of Delta over the past two decades,” Hauenstein said. “I want to thank my team members, colleagues, and the entire Delta family for their support and dedication to our shared goal of building the world’s greatest airline. I’m excited to see us embark into our next century under Joe’s leadership.”
Joe Esposito joined Delta in 1990 and has held various positions in airport service, planning, and management before leading network planning. “No one is better positioned to lead these critical functions as we move into Delta’s second century of flight,” Bastian said.
Esposito acknowledged Hauenstein’s influence: “Glen leaves behind a powerful legacy of innovation and bold thinking that has transformed our industry,” he said. “It’s been a tremendous privilege to work alongside him for the past 20 years, and I’m humbled and inspired to lead the outstanding teams he developed as we envision the Delta of the next 100 years.”
With these changes, several senior leaders—including Steve Sear (Global Sales & Distribution), Dwight James (Customer Engagement & Loyalty), Paul Baldoni (Network Planning), Roberto Ioriatti (International Pricing & Revenue Management), and Ashley Droske Westphal (Domestic Pricing & Revenue Management)—will report directly to Esposito.
Additionally, Eric Phillips (Chief Digital Officer) will now report to Rahul Samant (Chief Information Officer), while Holden Shannon (Corporate Real Estate) will report to Peter Carter (Chief External Affairs Officer).
Delta Air Lines began its operations nearly a century ago as Huff Daland Dusters focused on crop-dusting before transitioning into commercial aviation with scheduled passenger flights starting in 1929 [source].
