Tag Archives: Delta Air Lines Inc

American, Alaska Air will end pay protections for unvaccinated staff if they contract Covid

American Airlines flight 718, the first U.S. Boeing 737 MAX commercial flight since regulators lifted a 20-month grounding in November, takes off from Miami, Florida, December 29, 2020.

Marco Bello | Reuters

American Airlines and Alaska Airlines will no longer cover Covid-19 quarantine time for employees who aren’t vaccinated against the virus, the latest push to get staff inoculated.

“Going forward, given there is an FDA-approved vaccine, pandemic leave will only be offered to team members who are fully vaccinated and who provide their vaccination card to us,” American said in a staff memo on Thursday. The change starts Oct. 1 and unvaccinated workers will have to use their sick time or medical leave if they miss work because of Covid.

The similar change at Alaska Airlines went into effect Aug. 30.

Both airlines stopped short of instituting a vaccine mandate, like the one United Airlines announced last month, and the policy changes show diverging tactics among carriers in encouraging workers to get vaccinated.

Alaska Airlines on Thursday said it would pay employees $200 if they disclose their proof of Covid-19 vaccination by Oct. 15 and said those who fail to do so will be considered unvaccinated. Unvaccinated employees will have to wear masks at all times on the job and attend a “mandatory vaccine education program.”

Southwest Airlines, which also doesn’t require employees to be vaccinated, said it would restore pay or paid time off to workers who had to quarantine due to a Covid-19 infection or for being in close contact with someone who tested positive, retroactive to June 16. The company had discontinued that program in mid-June, citing a drop in Covid cases and high vaccine availability.

Southwest’s pilots’ union earlier this week sued the airline, alleging that a number of Covid-related polices, including the end of paid time off for exposure or infection, required negotiation with the union.

“With COVID-19 cases continuing to rise, due to the Delta variant, Southwest is taking an additional step to support our Employees by implementing a Quarantine Pay Program,” said spokeswoman Brandy King. The new policy will restore time-off balances for staff “who previously, and responsibly, quarantined for Company-related incidents over the summer as cases spiked in the general population across the country.”

Delta Air Lines last week said it will impose a $200 monthly surcharge on employees covered by the company health insurance on Nov. 1 if they are not vaccinated. The Atlanta-based carrier is

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Alaska Airlines is considering Covid vaccine mandates for staff

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 taking off from LAX.

PG | Getty Images

Alaska Airlines told staff on Wednesday that it is considering making Covid-19 vaccines mandatory for employees, according to company memo, which was seen by CNBC.

The policy change would make the Seattle-based carrier the latest airline to require vaccines for its employees. On Friday, United Airlines became the first major U.S. carrier to mandate vaccines for its staff. Frontier Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have since issued similar requirements

Alaska, which has roughly 20,000 employees, said if it does mandate vaccines it would do so after the Food and Drug Administration gives full approval to one of the vaccines that are currently available under emergency approval.

Airline executives have recently raised concerns about the fast-spreading delta variant of Covid. Southwest Airlines earlier on Wednesday lowered its revenue and profit outlook, blaming the variant’s spread on weaker bookings and increased cancellations.

Delta, Southwest and American have encouraged but not mandated that employees are vaccinated.

“As an employer with a duty to keep you safe and given the contagiousness and health risks of the COVID-19 virus and its variants, we are within our rights to make this decision and to ask you for information about your vaccine status,” Alaska told employees. It said that there would be exceptions for religious or medical reasons, similar to other companies’ policies.”

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5 things to know before the stock market opens Friday, Aug. 6

Here are the most important news, trends and analysis that investors need to start their trading day:

1. Stocks look steady, bond yields rise after strong jobs data

A trader works on the trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, August 5, 2021.

Andrew Kelly | Reuters

2. Nonfarm payrolls in July came in higher than expected

The Labor Department on Friday reported the U.S. economy created 943,000 new nonfarm jobs in July. The nation’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.4%. That’s also much better than expected. Average hourly earnings also increased more than expected, rising 0.4% for the month.

3. United Airlines will require vaccines for its 67,000 U.S. employees

United Airlines pilot Steve Lindland receives a COVID-19 vaccine from RN Sandra Manella at United’s onsite clinic at O’Hare International Airport on March 09, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois.

Scott Olson | Getty Images

United Airlines will require its 67,000 U.S. employees to get vaccinated against Covid by no later than Oct. 25 or risk termination, a first for major U.S. carriers that will likely ramp up pressure on rivals. Airlines including United have resisted vaccine mandates for all workers, instead offering incentives like extra pay or time off to get inoculated. Delta Air Lines in May started requiring newly hired employees to show proof of vaccination. United followed suit in June.

4. White House backs senators pushing for stricter crypto reporting rules

The White House weighed in, somewhat out of the blue, on a contentious battle over competing crypto amendments to the $1 trillion infrastructure bill. The fight is over a provision in the bipartisan bill, which raises money through stricter tax rules on cryptocurrency transactions. The White House wrote in a statement late Thursday that the “amendment put forward by Senators Warner, Portman, and Sinema strikes the right balance and makes an important step forward in promoting tax compliance.”

5. JPMorgan quietly unveils access to a half-dozen crypto funds

A woman walks past JPMorgan Chase & Co’s international headquarters on Park Avenue in New York.

Andrew Burton | Reuters

JPMorgan Chase, led by bitcoin skeptic Jamie Dimon, has started giving its wealth management clients access to six crypto funds in the past month. On Thursday, financial advisors were allowed to begin placing private bank clients into a new bitcoin fund created with crypto firm NYDIG, according to people with knowledge of the move. The fund is nearly identical to one NYDIG offers to clients of rival bank Morgan Stanley, said the people. Late last month, JPMorgan rolled out access to four funds from Grayscale Investments and one from Osprey Funds.

— Follow all the market action like a pro on CNBC Pro. Get the latest on the pandemic with CNBC’s coronavirus coverage.

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Air safety site lists 20 best airlines in the world

Travelers who are on the fence about flying again may want to check out a new list of the world’s best airlines.

The airline safety website AirlineRatings.com published its list of “Top Airlines in the World,” which traditionally ranks carriers by safety, in-flight service, passenger comfort and flight routes.

But this year, new judging criteria are shaking up the rankings. For the first time, airlines are being judged in part by how they responded to the Covid-19 global pandemic.

“Covid impacted the ratings in two ways,” said AirlineRatings.com Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas. “Airlines had to be Covid-compliant to our standards to be considered, and we deleted profitability as a criterion this year.”

And the winner is…

Qatar Airways took the No. 1 spot this year, named “Airline of the Year” by the website.

The Doha-based carrier was awarded the top prize due to its cabin innovation, in-flight service and “dedication and commitment to continue to operate throughout the Covid pandemic,” according to the site’s announcement on July 20.

Doha-based Qatar Airways was launched in the mid-1990s and currently flies to more than 140 destinations.

Courtesy of Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways also introduced industry firsts, AirlineRatings.com said, such as being the first to complete the International Air Transport Association’s safety audit and among the first to trial its Covid Safe Travel Pass.

Qatar Airways also has one of the world’s youngest fleets, the announcement said.

The rest of the list

Here’s the full list, following by each airline’s position last year:

1. Qatar Airways (9)

2. Air New Zealand (1)

3. Singapore Airlines (2)

4. Qantas (4)

5. Emirates (6)

6. Cathay Pacific (5)

7. Virgin Atlantic (7)

8. United Airlines (N/A)

9. EVA Air (8)

10. British Airways (17)

11. Lufthansa (11)

12. ANA, or All Nippon Airways (3)

13. Finnair (12)

14. Japan Airlines (13)

15. KLM (14)

16. Hawaiian Airlines (16)

17. Alaska Airlines (18)

18. Virgin Australia (10)

19. Delta Air Lines (19)

20. Etihad Airways (20)

Most carriers maintained a similar position as they did in the 2020 list. Still, Qatar Airways jumped eight places to clinch the top spot, a position typically dominated by Air New Zealand.

“Air New Zealand has been our ‘Airline of the Year’ in six of the last eight years because of its outstanding innovation and cabin service,” Thomas said.

Qatar Airways’ much-lauded Qsuites, which feature double beds and privacy panels to create a private room, have earned the airline “Best Business Class” accolades for three years in a row.

Courtesy of Qatar Airways

British Airways jumped seven places in the rankings to No. 10, while United leaped to No. 8, after not making the 2020 list at all.

Only airlines with seven safety stars are considered for the annual list. That rating is based on crash history, pilot-related incidents, government audits — and now Covid protocols, such as social distancing, aircraft cleaning and masked cabin crew.

Fewer than 150 of the 350-some airlines evaluated by AirlineRatings.com have seven stars. Eight airlines have just one star, according to the website.

The company said rankings, which are judged by the website’s editors, also consider airline service, staff engagement and passenger feedback.

Excellence Awards

Individual carriers are also singled out for “Airline Excellence Awards” for superior service and products. This year’s awards went to:

Best first class: Singapore Airlines

Best business class: Qatar Airways

Best premium economy class: Air New Zealand

Best economy class: Air New Zealand

Best low-cost airline in Asia-Pacific: Jetstar

Best low-cost airline in Europe: EasyJet

Best low-cost airline in the Americas: Southwest

Best ultra-low-cost airline: Vietjet Air          

Best regional airline: Qantas

Best cabin crew: Virgin Australia

Best lounges: Qantas

In-flight catering award: Qatar

In-flight entertainment award: Emirates

Separately, AirlineRatings.com issues an annual “Top Twenty Safest Airlines” list that analyzes crash records and safety compliance. Next year, it too will factor in Covid compliance measures by the airlines, said Thomas.

That list is expected in January 2022.  

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5 things to know before the stock market opens Wednesday, July 21

Here are the most important news, trends and analysis that investors need to start their trading day:

1. Wall Street tries to keep its rebound rally going

People walk along Wall Street in the rain on July 08, 2021 in New York City.

Spencer Platt | Getty Images

2. J&J, Coca-Cola, Verizon beat on earnings, revenue

A healthcare clinician prepares a dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for a commuter during the opening of MTA’s public vaccination program at the 179th Street subway station in the Queens borough of New York City, New York, U.S., May 12, 2021.

Shannon Stapleton | Reuters

Dow stock Johnson & Johnson rose about 1% in premarket trading after the U.S. drugmaker Wednesday delivered better-than-expected earnings of $2.48 per share in the second quarter. Revenue of $23.31 billion also beat expectations. J&J expects to sell $2.5 billion of its one-shot Covid vaccine this year, even as concerns mount over its effectiveness against the delta variant. A new NYU study suggests that people who got the J&J vaccine get a second shot of it or a booster of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

A worker restocks a display of Coca-Cola Co. soft drinks at a store in Orem, Utah, U.S., on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021.

George Frey | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Shares of Dow component Coca-Cola jumped about 2% in the premarket after the beverage giant reported better-than-expected earnings of 68 cents per share. Revenue of $10.13 billion also exceeded forecasts. Sales surpassed 2019 pre-Covid levels, prompting the company to raise its full-year outlook.

Verizon, also a Dow stock, rose about 1.5% in premarket trading, after the company beat estimates by 7 cents with adjusted quarterly profit of $1.37 per share. Verizon also reported better-than-expected revenue and subscriber growth, and raised its full-year outlook.

3. Netflix beats on paid subscriber growth but misses on earnings

In this photo illustration the Netflix logo in the App Store seen displayed on a smartphone screen.

Rafael Henrique | SOPA Images | LightRocket | Getty Images

Shares of Netflix fell in the premarket after the video-streaming giant late Tuesday missed estimates with second-quarter earnings of $2.97 per share. Revenue of $7.34 billion basically matched forecasts. Global paid net subscriber additions of 1.54 million beat expectations. Netflix also confirmed a push into gaming. The company recently hired video game executive Mike Verdu from Facebook. Netflix will be able to differentiate its gaming offerings because of its vast bank of intellectual property, COO Greg Peters said during the firm’s earnings call.

4. United plans to ramp up flights to meet strong demand

A United Airlines passenger jet lands at Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey, U.S. December 6, 2019.

Chris Helgren | Reuters

Shares of United Airlines gained about 1% in Wednesday’s premarket, the morning after the carrier matched estimates with a second-quarter loss of $3.91 per share. Revenue beat expectations and quadrupled to $5.47 billion, thanks to a resurgence in air travel following last year’s pandemic-induced collapse in demand. Sales were still down 50% from 2019 levels. United expects to generate positive adjusted pretax income for the third and fourth quarters and plans to ramp up flights. Last week, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines also said they have seen an improvement in bookings and financial results.

5. WHO chief warns about ‘early stages of another wave’

The logo of Tokyo 2020 is displayed near Odaiba Seaside Park in Tokyo on July 7, 2021, as reports said the Japanese government plans to impose a virus state of emergency in Tokyo during the Olympics.

Kazuhiro Nogi | AFP | Getty Images

The world is in the “early stages of another wave” of Covid infections and death, World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday. Speaking to International Olympic Committee members in Tokyo, Tedros also called on the world’s leading economies to share vaccines. With the Games set to open Friday, after being delayed a year, Tokyo’s new infections surged to a six-month high Wednesday. Olympics organizing chief Toshiro Muto on Tuesday refused to rule out canceling the Games if coronavirus cases spiked. A spokesperson later said organizers were “concentrating 100% on delivering successful Games.”

— Follow all the market action like a pro on CNBC Pro. Get the latest on the pandemic with CNBC’s coronavirus coverage.

Disclosure: CNBC parent NBCUniversal owns NBC Sports and NBC Olympics. NBC Olympics is the U.S. broadcast rights holder to all Summer and Winter Games through 2032.

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United Airlines (UAL) 2Q 21 narrows losses

A United Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft lands at San Francisco International Airport on March 13, 2019 in Burlingame, California.

Justin Sullivan | Getty Images

United Airlines on Tuesday reported higher second-quarter revenue and narrowed its losses thanks to a resurgence in air travel, the latest carrier to issue a brightening outlook for one of the pandemic’s most battered sectors.

The Chicago-based airline said it expects to generate positive adjusted pretax income for the third and fourth quarters and that it plans to ramp up flying in response to higher travel demand. Delta Air Lines and American Airlines last week also said they have seen an improvement in bookings and financial results.

United’s revenue of $5.47 billion for the three months ended June 30, was down by more than 50% from the same quarter of 2019 but up nearly 70% from the first quarter of the year as U.S. officials rolled out Covid vaccines broadly this spring, attractions reopened and more customers returned to air travel.

However, United still posted a net loss of $434 million, its sixth consecutive quarterly loss, in the three months ended June 30. In the first three months of 2021, United lost nearly $1.4 billion. The airline said it recorded $1.1 billion in income from a federal payroll grant, part of the $54 billion Congress set aside for U.S. airlines since March 2020.

Here’s how United performed in the second quarter compared with what Wall Street expected, based on average estimates compiled by Refinitiv:

  • Adjusted results per share: a loss of $3.91, in line with expectations.
  • Total revenue: $5.47 billion versus expected $5.37 billion in revenue.

United’s shares were down more than 1% in afterhours trading.

The airline said it ended the second quarter with about $23 billion in available liquidity.

Adjusting for one-time items, United posted a per-share loss of $3.91, in line with analysts’ estimates.

United said its capacity for the current quarter will be down 26% from 2019 levels. In the second quarter, it flew 46% less than in 2019. It said its cost per seat mile, excluding fuel and other special charges, will likely be up 17% over the third quarter of 2019, partly due to flying shorter routes than usual and using smaller planes.

Fuel costs have also climbed. United said it paid an average of $1.97 a gallon for jet fuel in the second quarter, up nearly 67% from a year ago.

Airlines have reported a surge in bookings since this spring as vaccines rolled broadly, Covid cases fell and officials dropped pandemic-era restrictions.

United executives are scheduled to discuss the results and provide a more in-depth outlook on a 10:30 a.m. ET call Wednesday.

Analysts are expected to quiz airline management about trends in international and business travel bookings, two pillars of United’s business before the pandemic. The fast-spreading delta variant has raised concerns about renewed limits on travel.

On Monday, the State Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised against travel to the U.K. because of rising case counts.

But United and other airlines have been upbeat about the demand recovery. United last month said it plans to buy 270 Boeing and Airbus narrow-body jets, its largest aircraft order ever, to replace older planes and grow the carrier over the next several years.

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Bank of America, BlackRock, Delta, Peloton and more

Check out the companies making headlines before the bell:

Bank of America (BAC) – Bank of America shares slid 2.2% in the premarket after it reported a quarterly profit of $1.03 per share, including a one-time tax benefit. The consensus estimate was 77 cents. The bank’s revenue came in below Wall Street forecasts and it also reported higher expenses.

BlackRock (BLK) – The asset management firm reported an adjusted quarterly profit of $10.03 per share, beating the consensus estimate of $9.46, while revenue was also above Wall Street forecasts. Assets under management surged to a record $9.49 trillion during the quarter. Despite the beat, BlackRock fell 1.4% in premarket action.

Delta Air Lines (DAL) – Delta lost $1.07 per share for the second quarter, less than the $1.38 per share loss that analysts were anticipating. Revenue topped forecasts, with Delta noting accelerated customer demand and a “solid” pretax profit for the month of June. Delta gained 2.6% in premarket action.

Peloton (PTON) – Pelton shares fell 2.2% in the premarket after Wedbush Securities downgraded the fitness equipment maker’s stock to “neutral” from “outperform”. Wedbush points out that consumers now have a growing number of workout alternatives, as well as the post-pandemic option of out-of-home workouts.

American Airlines (AAL) – American expects to report positive cash flow for the second quarter, the first time that’s happened since the pandemic began. At the height of the global travel shutdown, American was burning about $100 million per day in cash. American shares jumped 2.9% in premarket trading.

Broadcom (AVGO) – The chipmaker is no longer in talks to buy software company SAS Institute, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke to the Wall Street Journal. The end of the discussions reportedly came after SAS co-founders Jim Goodnight and John Sall changed their minds about possibly selling the company.

Apple (AAPL) – Apple is asking suppliers to build as many as 90 million next-generation iPhones, according to people with knowledge of the matter who spoke to Bloomberg. That would represent an up to 20% increase over 2020 levels. Apple rose 1.8% in the premarket.

EBay (EBAY) – eBay agreed to sell part of its stake in Norway’s Adevinta to satisfy a demand from Austrian competition regulators. Austria wanted eBay to cut its stake to no more than 33%, in order to give its approval for a tie-up between the classified ad businesses of the two companies. EBay will sell a 10.2% Adevinta stake to private equity firm Permira for $2.25 billion.

L Brands (LB) – L Brands raised its fiscal second-quarter earnings guidance, thanks to better-than-expected profit margins and improved sales at its Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works units. Separately, L Brands filed to sell 20 million shares held by founder Leslie Wexner and affiliated stockholders. The company will not receive any proceeds from the sale. L Brands fell 2.1% in the premarket.

Jefferies Financial (JEF) – Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group is considering buying a 5% stake in Jefferies for about $380 million, according to multiple reports. Sumitomo did acknowledge it was considering a financial alliance with Jefferies and would announce further details once they are worked out. Jefferies shares rallied 3.5% in premarket trading.

Lululemon (LULU) – The apparel maker’s shares rose 1.1% in the premarket after Goldman initiated coverage with a “buy” rating and inclusion on the firm’s “Conviction Buy” list. Goldman said the post-Covid recovery period has been favorable for apparel and strong brands.

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Stock futures open mostly flat ahead of the kickoff of earnings season

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

NYSE

Stock futures opened mostly flat late Sunday as earnings season kicks off this week.

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 25 points, or 0.07%. S&P 500 futures edged 0.08% higher and Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.17%.

The three major indexes closed at record highs on Friday after a sell-off Thursday as investors worried about a potential slowdown in U.S. economic growth. Friday’s rally brought the averages into the green for the week; the Dow added 0.24% week-to-date, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq each rose about 0.4% in the same period.

Stocks tied to the economic recovery that fell during Thursday’s session logged gains on Friday. Financial names rebounded, with Bank of America and Goldman Sachs both jumping more than 3%. Travel-related stocks also rose; Royal Caribbean popped 3.6%, Wynn Resorts gained close to 2%, and American Airlines and United Airlines both added more than 2%.

The major averages’ record highs come ahead of the start of quarterly earnings reports. S&P 500 companies’ profits are expected to be up 65% from the same quarter a year ago, according to Refinitiv, bouncing back from the worst of the pandemic. The expected surge in profits would be the strongest earnings growth since the fourth quarter of 2009, as stocks recovered from the financial crisis.

“The second quarter could be as good as it gets for economic growth,” Callie Bost, senior investment strategist at Ally Invest, said. “Earnings growth may slow, but analysts still expect S&P profits to grow by double digits in the next two quarters. It’s crucial not to lose faith in the market just because the economy’s strongest growth may be behind us.”

JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and PepsiCo kick off earnings season with results due out before the bell on Tuesday. Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Delta Air Lines and BlackRock report on Wednesday, and Morgan Stanley, Truist and UnitedHealth post results on Thursday.

Investors also anticipate important data to be released this week, including key readings on inflation on Tuesday and Wednesday, and June retail sales on Friday.

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Air travel optimism boosts Asia-Pacific airline stocks

Qantas A380 taking off on runway in Saxony, Dresden on Aug. 21, 2020

Tino Plunert | picture alliance | Getty Images

SINGAPORE — Asia-Pacific airline stocks were on the move on Tuesday after a flurry of announcements largely boosted the outlook for international air travel.

Shares of Australia’s Qantas Airways surged 3.14% on Tuesday while Air New Zealand’s stock soared 5.8%.

Those stocks rose as New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the “travel bubble” between her country and Australia will begin April 19.

Meanwhile, Singapore’s aviation regulator said beginning in May the country will start accepting travelers who use the International Air Transport Association (IATA) mobile travel pass for pre-departure checks. Shares of Singapore Airlines were 0.72% higher, as of 3:48 p.m. Singapore time on Tuesday.

“Having the confidence of an aviation leader like Singapore in IATA Travel Pass is hugely significant,” Willie Walsh, director general at IATA, said in a statement.

“Ongoing trials put us on track for IATA Travel Pass to be a critical tool for the industry’s restart by delivering verified travel health credentials to governments. And travellers can have complete confidence that their personal data is secure and under their own control,” Walsh said.

Elsewhere, shares of Korean Air Lines edged 0.18% higher, while Japan’s airlines stocks lagged the broader region. Japan Airlines dropped 2.44% while ANA Holdings fell 2.31%.

Local media reported that quasi-emergency Covid-19 measures were implemented starting Monday in multiple prefectures in Japan in an effort to stem a resurgence in infections.

The air travel industry has been among the sectors hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic as authorities globally tightened border restrictions to curb the spread of the virus.

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Major U.S. companies take aim at Georgia’s new voting restrictions

Republican Governor Brian Kemp signs the law S.B. 202, a restrictive voting law that activists have said aimed to curtail the influence of Black voters who were instrumental in state elections that helped Democrats win the White House and narrow control of the U.S. Senate, in this handout photo posted to Kemp’s Twitter feed on March 25, 2021.

Governor Brian Kemp’s Twitter feed | Handout via Reuters

Business executives across the United States are calling out efforts to restrict voting access, after Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill into law that opponents say would disproportionately disenfranchise voters of color.

Among the overhaul of state elections, the bill includes a restriction of drop boxes, makes it a crime to provide food or water to voters lined up outside polling stations, requires mandatory proof of identity for absentee voting and creates greater legislative control over how elections are run.

The bill is one of many Republican-backed election efforts introduced across the U.S. after former President Donald Trump, and other GOP members, falsely claimed that last year’s election defeat was due to fraud. For Georgia, it comes after historic turnout in the state’s election, particularly among Black voters and voters of color, in November general and January runoff elections.

Now, civil rights groups, corporate leaders and Democratic officials are denouncing the law.

CNBC compiled a list of corporate responses to the bill:

  • Global asset manager BlackRock issued a statement Wednesday on LinkedIn.
    “Equal access to voting is the very foundation of American democracy. While BlackRock appreciates the importance of maintaining election integrity and transparency, these should not be used to restrict equal access to the polls. BlackRock is concerned about efforts that could limit access to the ballot for anyone. Voting should be easy and accessible for ALL eligible voters. Voting is not just a right, but a vital component of civil activity. We should encourage all eligible voters to play this essential role in our democracy,” CEO Larry Fink wrote.
  • Coca-Cola executive Alfredo Rivera said in a statement the company, which is headquartered in Georgia, is disappointed by the law. “As soon as Georgia’s legislature convened this year, our company joined with other Georgia businesses to share our core principles: We opposed measures that would seek to diminish or restrict voter access and we advocated for broad access, voter convenience, election integrity and political neutrality. Anything that inhibits these principles can lead to voter suppression. We took these steps because they align to our Purpose and the conscience we follow,” he said.
  • Georgia-based Delta airlines said in a memo to employees that the “final bill is unacceptable and does not match Delta’s values.” “After having time to now fully understand all that is in the bill, coupled with discussions with leaders and employees in the Black community, it’s evident that the bill includes provisions that will make it harder for many underrepresented voters, particularly Black voters, to exercise their constitutional right to elect their representatives. That is wrong,” CEO Ed Bastian said.
  • Pharmaceutical giant Merck said Wednesday that the company stands “strong on our core values including our commitment to social justice and the right of people to fully and freely participate in electoral processes.” “There is no more fundamental right than the right to vote. Democracy rests on ensuring that every eligible voter has an equal and fair opportunity to cast a ballot, free from restrictions that have a discriminatory impact. We all have an obligation to stand up against racism and other forms of discrimination whenever we see them,” the company added.
  • Porsche’s North American operations, headquartered in Georgia, issued a statement that “equal access to the polls for every voter is core to a democracy.” “As an Atlanta-based business, Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) supported the work of the Metro Atlanta Chamber with members of the Georgia General Assembly to maximize voter participation and ensure election integrity. We understand the legislative outcome remains subject to debate and hope a resolution can be found between all sides that encourages and enables every eligible vote,” the company said.
  • Georgia-based UPS said this week the company supports the ability and facilitation of all eligible voters to exercise their right to vote. “Like other businesses in the community, we actively engaged with political leaders in both parties and other stakeholders to advocate for more equitable access to the polls and for integrity in the election process across the state. We echo the statement by the Metro Atlanta Chamber and stand ready to continue to help in ensuring every Georgia voter has the ability to vote,” the company said.
  • Mercedes-Benz said that it “stands against efforts which discourage eligible voters to participate in this vital process.”
  • In a blog post, Microsoft President Brad Smith noted the company expressed concern about the law prior to its passage and laid out its opposition in further detail, such as narrowing the window of time voters can request an absentee ballot. “We recognize that some recent criticisms of Georgia’s legislation have proven inaccurate. But already, it’s clear to us that the new law contains important provisions that needlessly and unfairly make it more difficult for people to vote,” Smith wrote. “This new law falls short of the mark, and we should work together to press the Georgia legislature to change it,” he added.
  • Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins shared his concern for the new law in a tweet. “Our vote is our voice, and everyone deserves the opportunity to be heard. Governments should be working to make it easier to vote, not harder. Ensuring equal #VotingRights isn’t a political issue, it’s an issue of right and wrong,” he said.
  • Home Depot, which is headquartered in Georgia, said that it will work to ensure its workers across the country have the resources and information to vote. “We believe that all elections should be accessible, fair and secure and support broad voter participation.”

In a statement Wednesday to CNBC, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp defended the law and specifically took aim at Delta’s chief executive. 

“Today’s statement by Delta CEO Ed Bastian stands in stark contrast to our conversations with the company, ignores the content of the new law and unfortunately continues to spread the same false attacks being repeated by partisan activists,” Kemp, a Republican, said. 

“Mr. Bastian should compare voting laws in Georgia — which include no-excuse absentee balloting, online voter registration, 17 days of early voting with an additional two optional Sundays, and automatic voter registration when obtaining a driver’s license — with other states Delta Airlines operates in,” he added.

CNBC’s Frank Holland, Mike Wayland, Phil LeBeau, Sara Eisen, Amelia Lucas, Kevin Stankiewicz and Leslie Picker contributed to this report.



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