John Laughter

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.