Executive VP, President of Delta TechOps & Chief of Operations, Delta Air Lines
Search every verified John Laughter interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. John Laughter, Executive Vice President and Chief of Operations at Delta Air Lines, spoke about the opening of a new engine repair shop in Atlanta, Georgia, for Pratt & Whitney GTF engines. He described the facility as a continuation of Delta Tech Ops' advancement into next-generation engine platforms, noting that it services Delta's A321 Neo and A220 aircraft while also serving over 100 other airlines. Laughter stated that the shop is "another revenue stream" for Delta, adding that the company has been investing in third-party capability for more than 20 years. He said the shop will perform more than 10 percent of GTF engine overhauls in its first year and has the capacity to expand to over 400 engines annually. Laughter emphasized that the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) business benefits Delta by improving the reliability of its own fleet, allowing engines to be repaired and returned to service faster and reducing the need for spare assets. He noted that the airline industry rebounded quickly after the pandemic, returning to pre-pandemic levels by 2022. Laughter also stated that Delta Tech Ops will be the only shop in North America capable of handling three next-generation engine platforms: the Pratt & Whitney GTF, Rolls-Royce Trent, and CFM International LEAP engines.
“This is just the continuation of our Tech Ops team's advancement into the Next Generation engine platforms. It matches well with our fleet; it powers our newest A321 Neo airplanes as well as our A220 aircraft. It also gives us another chance to show the world what we're capable of doing for over 100 airlines around the...”
“This engine shop will do more than 10 percent in this first year of the engine overhauls on the GTF engine, and we'll have the capability to expand to well over 400 engines a year when we get up to full capacity.”
“This is another revenue stream for Delta. We have been investing in growing our third-party capability for more than 20 years.”
“The MRO business is good, particularly when you have a group of people developing high-tech repairs and working with technicians on the next level of repair that we can do to engines. Investing time in developing repairs is what really makes this a good business to be part of.”
“One of the benefits to us being in this business is improving the reliability of our own fleet. Having a high-tech workforce involved in turning these engines means we get them off wing, repaired, overhauled, and back on wing faster, reducing the need to own additional spare assets.”
“The entire airline industry took a small step back as we entered the pandemic with uncertainty, but that rebounded very quickly starting in 2021. By 2022, we saw continued growth as airlines put their aircraft back into service, including Delta. I think it's really back up to the level that we saw pre-pandemic and cont...”
“Delta Tech Ops is going to be uniquely positioned with three next-generation engine platforms: the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine, the Rolls-Royce Trent engine, and soon the CFM International LEAP engine. These platforms represent the future deliveries with efficient, quiet, fuel-saving, and sustainable engines. Delta will...”
DeltaAirLines #youtube #airlines Delta Air Lines EVP and Chief of Operations John Laughter joins Yahoo Finance Live anchors ...
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