Delta CEO Ed Bastian says the airline sees the economy before everyone else does

# Delta's Booking Data Reveals the Economy's Real Health Better Than News Headlines Delta Airlines sees economic trends before they hit the news because its real-time booking data—showing what people are actually planning to buy months in advance—acts like an early warning system for the broader economy. With 70% of third-quarter revenue already locked in through advance bookings, CEO Ed Bastian essentially has a crystal ball that shows consumer confidence and spending patterns before economists and journalists catch up. This means if you want to know whether a recession is really coming or if people are still confident about their finances, watching what airlines like Delta are seeing in their reservation systems might tell you more than reading the headlines.