Delta Air Lines announced on Friday that its chief operating officer, Michael Spanos, will be leaving the company next week to pursue another opportunity. Spanos has been with Delta for just over a year and his departure follows a recent technology outage that resulted in thousands of flight cancellations.
Prior to his time at Delta, Spanos had a successful career at PepsiCo and Six Flags Entertainment. He joined Delta in June 2023 and has been instrumental in improving the airline’s performance.
In a regulatory filing, Delta did not provide a specific reason for Spanos’ departure, but stated that he will receive severance benefits in accordance with the company’s policies. Spanos was compensated $8.6 million last year, mostly in stock awards.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, confirmed that Spanos had expressed his intentions to leave earlier in the summer, before the technology outage incident. Bastian praised Spanos for his contributions to Delta and mentioned that the company will not be appointing a new chief operating officer.
The recent technology outage had a significant impact on Delta, causing the airline to cancel thousands of flights over several days. The U.S. Transportation Department is currently investigating the incident, and Delta is seeking $500 million in damages from the technology providers involved.
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