Delta’s Drama Kings

Things aren’t always what they seem.

In a recent announcement, Delta Airlines revealed that President Ed Bastian will retain the CFO title, effectively nixing plans to hire a new CFO. The company’s official line? Bastian’s dual role will help “seamlessly maintain relationships and momentum.” But let’s be honest—this sounds like corporate fluff.

Let’s dig a little deeper into what’s really going on.

Sources close to the situation suggest that Bastian and CEO Richard Anderson have developed a personal animosity toward each other. Not exactly shocking, considering the events that led to Anderson’s hiring. However, since personal tension doesn’t make for a headline-friendly news story, it’s usually brushed aside as just another executive quirk.

But here’s the thing: anyone watching Delta closely should keep an eye on how this friction between the two leaders shapes decisions within the company. More often than not, it’s not the major business moves that reveal the true dynamics of a company—it’s how executives manage interpersonal conflicts.

And here’s the irony: while Anderson is reportedly more focused on operations, the strategic mind behind Delta’s original success, Jim Whitehurst, has already left the building. Word is, Whitehurst may be the next CEO of RedHat in Raleigh, NC, though we can’t confirm that just yet. If tensions don’t ease up soon, Bastian might be on his way out early next year.

As for rumors about a potential Northwest merger? It doesn’t make much business sense—but in the high-stakes world of corporate dealmaking, logic isn’t always the driving factor. The board seems to be consolidating its position on what’s next. We’ll just have to wait and see.