"Initiative Is A Positive For Customers And Employees"

The news of Delta Air Lines' new "Clean Campaign,"  -- an initiative the airline says "includes increasing the frequency of aircraft deep cleans and completing its on-going program to refurbish aircraft interiors"... in part, by using employees who volunteer to donate their time, off-the-clock, to help clean the cabins of Delta aircraft -- has received some criticism from pundits and consumers.

In response to those criticisms, Delta issued a clarification of the intent behind the policy, which follows below.

The [Clean Campaign] initiative was launched with a kick-off event, "Clean Day," which gave employees and leaders the opportunity to work together to better the customer experience. It has been mischaracterized and Delta would like to take the opportunity to correct any inadvertent misreporting and concern this has caused. Specifically:

• Delta executives, together with Delta employees, kicked off the Clean Campaign initiative by volunteering to clean Delta aircraft during overnight shifts earlier this week.
• Delta is not eliminating its overnight cleaning crews. To the contrary, the company is increasing the frequency of aircraft deep cleaning procedures.
• This is not a cost cutting measure. This is part of an initiative to underscore Delta's commitment to the fundamentals of customer service and, in fact, the company has committed millions of dollars in additional resources to support the Clean Campaign going forward.
• As they frequently do, employees asked Delta what they could do to help improve the customer experience, and from that inquiry, Clean Day was born.
• Dozens of Delta leaders throughout the company, including several executives, also participated in "Clean Day" activities in New York, Cincinnati, and Salt Lake City.
• Delta employees have a strong history of working together and participating in the success of the airline.

Further, below are quotes from employees who participated in the Clean Day events.

• "Our airplanes needed our special touch and I was proud to be a part of the Delta team." Vanessa Womble (LGA)
• "I volunteered to do this out of sheer curiosity. I am fairly new to Delta, and wanted to see what it was like. It sounded fun, and it was! Our customers will notice the difference." Eric Schoenbaum (SLC)
• "I had a great time and would definitely do it again!" Sandra Fiallos (LGA)
• "This event brought us together." Ion Balan (LGA)

FMI: www.delta.com