Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

Delta Air Lines executive officers will take a 50 percent pay cut through June 30 and managing directors a 25 percent cut over the same period as part of a plan communicated Wednesday in a memo to employees from CEO Ed Bastian to cut cash expenditures by $4 billion in the fiscal quarter ending in June. Bastian, who announced last week he would forego a salary for the next six months along the rest of Delta’s board members, reported that the company is grounding at least half its fleet, or about 600 aircraft, and accelerating retirements of aging aircraft such as its MD-88/90s and some of its Boeing 767s.

 


Delta expects revenue for March to decline by almost $2 billion from the same month last year and projects its April intake to fall still further. To stem the losses it now plans a 70 percent systemwide capacity cut until demand starts to recover. Plans call for Delta to reduce its international flying by 80 percent over the next two to three months.

 


“We are having constructive discussions with the White House and Congress&nbsp;and remain optimistic that our industry will receive support to help address this crisis,” said Bastian. “That said, we have to continue to take all necessary self-help measures. Cash preservation remains our top financial priority right now. Making swift decisions now to reduce the losses and preserve cash will provide us the resources to rebound from the other side of this crisis and protect Delta's future.”

 


Delta has asked its employees to consider voluntary leave during the crisis. So far 10,000 Delta employees have volunteered. “I want to thank each of the roughly 10,000 Delta people who have already volunteered and I urge everyone, especially our merit employees, to seriously consider whether a temporary leave makes sense for you and your family right now,” said Bastian. Delta has promised to maintain access to health and flight benefits to anyone on leave.

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

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News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

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News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

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