Keyra Lynn Johnson--the "Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Impact Officer" at Delta Airlines--has spoken. From her lofty perch at the Atlanta-based carrier, Johnson has issued an edict: the phrase "ladies and gentlemen" shall henceforth be forbidden in Delta gates, clubs, and jets.
As reported by the New York Post, Johnson said in a recent DEI panel, “So we’re beginning to take a hard look at things like our gatehouse announcements. You know, we welcome ‘ladies and gentlemen.’ And we’ve asked ourselves, ‘Is that as gender inclusive as we want to be?’”
But it's not just announcements. Johnson is pursuing antiracist policies as well, which of course means hiring fewer white applicants and seeking to hire more people of color.
“To really come out and say, as an organization, that we are an antiracist company was really important to us,” she said. “We are going to actively seek diversity. We’re also talking about how we’re going to boldly pursue equity. And we’re talking about the steps we’re taking to consciously promote inclusion.”
We've seen how well such policies have worked for beleaguered aerospace giant Boeing.
With consumer confidence in air travel falling, the move by Delta is tone-deaf. Just today, a passenger plane carrying 70 people crashed in São Paulo. The last thing air travelers want to hear from Delta is their focus on inclusivity. They want to hear that safety is the top priority. That Delta pilots are the best in the business.
Furthermore, why is anyone still listening to DEI overlords? Seemingly, every other week another officer is exposed for misappropriation of funds. Did the world really think that Patrisse Cullors at Black Lives Matter was an aberration?
Air travel is about precision, not politics. Boeing has thankfully taken the step of hiring an engineer as its new CEO, as The Manhattan recently reported. That's the right direction, Delta. When a plane is in a tailspin, the last thing anyone cares about are preferred pronouns.
