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Bill
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Vicki
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Delta's
executive talks about economic impact of airlines after the terrorist
attacks
By Tatiana Prophet
tprophet@atlantalatino.com
Atlanta Sept. 20.- About 500 members of the U.S. Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce, many of whom braved the airways to fly to
Atlanta from as far away as Honolulu, Puerto Rico and Tokyo, attended
the opening breakfast of the chamber's annual convention at the
Atlanta Hilton and heard from one of the highest ranking women
in the airline industry about what's ahead for air travel.
They listened to speeches from Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell, Coca-Cola
executive Jeffrey Dunn, and Vicki Escarra, executive vice president
and chief marketing officer of Delta Air Lines, who spoke to the
crowd in place of Delta CEO Leo F. Mullin, the convention's co-chair.
Mullin was in Washington Thursday at a meeting with President
George W. Bush and other airline executives to discuss airline
procedures and security concerns.
Both Mayor Campbell, Dunn and Escarra thanked the participants
for attending the convention in spite of last Tuesday's unprecedented
terrorist attacks that ended in tragedy in New York City, Washington,
D.C., and Pennsylvania.
"I want to offer my thanks from Delta Air Lines to each every
one of you for continuing with your convention," said Escarra,
one of the highest-ranking women in the airline industry, who
wore a ribbon of red, white and blue on her collar.
"As
we gather together this morning, still extending our thoughts
to the victims and their families, I think it's fair to say we
are taking the time to think about what matters to us-our God,
our family, and those intangible possessions such as freedom and
liberty."
Escarra
said the airline industry has been restructured almost overnight.
""While safety has always been our most important guiding
principle, these tragic events have changed the landscape. We've
entered a new era of transportation dedicated to improving safety
and strengthening security."
Among some of the changes that are being discussed, Escarra mentioned:
requirements for increased baggage screening; daily security sweeps;
elimination of curbside check-in; and the presence of U.S. marshalls
on some, if not all, flights.
Escarra said the economic impact represents "real threats
to our country's viability," but added: "With your help
and the patience of the American people, I'm sure we will prevail."
Mayor Campbell also commended participants for continuing with
their convention plans. "If we don not return to normal,
if we do not make the necessary adjustments, if we do not go to
conventions, stay in hotels and eat in restaurants, then the terrorists
will have won a great victory," he said.
Escarra spoke of the Hispanic community and its tremendous buying
power. "The Hispanic community is without a doubt an important
driver in our country's economic well-being," she said. "With
this thought in mind, Delta Air Lines is proud to sponsor the
U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in advancing, facilitating and
promoting the success of Hispanic business." Escarra concluded
by wishing everyone in the room great success. (www.atlantalatino.com)
