Delta CEO Ed Bastian reveals what booking data shows about consumer health before headlines do, challenges AI hype in enterprise adoption, and explains why he suspended congressional perks during shutdown negotiations—offering unfiltered insights on the airline industry's response to fuel spikes, geopolitical uncertainty, and the limits of emerging technology. Delta's advanced booking data runs 60-120 days ahead of economic headlines, giving the airline an early read on consumer confidence that Federal Reserve officials actively seek out.