Former Song Prez John Selvaggio New Comair CEO
Delta Air Lines announced this week Don Bornhorst has been named
Senior Vice President -- Delta Connection, effective October 15.
Bornhorst, a 16-year industry veteran, most recently served as
president of Delta subsidiary Comair.
"One of Delta's top priorities is improving the Delta Connection
experience for our customers from onboard products and services to
operational performance. Don is a proven leader with the
background, focus and determination needed to unify the Delta
Connection brand and improve service to a level that meets or
exceeds our customers' expectations," said Joe Kolshak, Delta's
executive vice president of operations.
Bornhorst, 42, was named Comair's president in May 2006... and
soon had to handle two tumultuous situations: fallout from Comair's
earlier descent into Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and resulting labor
tensions; and the August 2006 takeoff crash of Comair 5191 in
Lexington, KY.
Before becoming
president, Bornhorst served as Comair's chief financial officer,
vice president of Information Systems and senior vice president of
Customers with oversight of Customer Services and In-flight.
As senior vice president of Delta Connection, Bornhorst will
oversee the day-to-day operations of nine partner airlines and lead
efforts to ensure Delta Connection service is seamless with
mainline operations. Bornhorst replaces Wayne Aaron, who returns to
his role as vice president - Strategic Planning and Business
Development.
With Bornhorst's move to Delta, Comair has tapped industry
veteran and former Delta executive John Selvaggio to lead Comair.
Selvaggio most recently served as the head of Delta's now-defunct
low-cost unit, Song, and prior to that he served as senior vice
president for Delta's Airport Customer Service division.
"John has a wealth of experience in airline operations and his
proven leadership will ensure that Comair stays focused on its
primary mission of delivering excellence to Delta customers," said
Kolshak.
Delta says Selvaggio, 60, brings extensive regional airline
expertise to Comair, including previous service as the head of US.
Airways' Express Division and president of Wings West Airlines, a
predecessor to American Eagle.
In 1998, Selvaggio joined Delta and coordinated the company's
efforts in the acquisition of Atlantic Southeast Airlines in 1999,
followed by Comair a year later.