Mark Hess Email & Phone Number

Atlanta, Ga, Us

Atlanta, Georgia

As a founding member, Mark Hess brings over 25 years of aviation experience to the group, specializing in network design, long and short term planning and strategic planning. In addition to Mark's experience at Delta, he also led Sabre Airline Solutions' airline planning and operations consulting wing. Mark's experience is primarily internationally based, working with carriers having as few as 6 aircraft to those having over 200, ranging from LLCs to network carriers.

Directs a team of 20 internationally based airline planning and operations consultants working with airlines around the world to solve network and operational problems and optimize performance.Specializes in both business consulting where he and his team works with clients to solve business needs as well as implementation consulting where they meet with the clients before, during and after a Sabre software solution is installed to overcome any gaps and develop and implement business cases to ensure adoption of the tools. Mark takes personal involvement in the engagements. Personal consulting projects:* Redesigned Aloha Airline’s flight schedule to better position flights for profitability* Produced a summer schedule for Malaysia Airlines increasing their profitability by a forecasted $16.8M for summer period* Created winter schedule for Yemenia Airways with an increased profitability of 6.2%* Developed 5 year network and fleet plans for SATA Airlines and Cyprus Airways* Produced “Quick Hits” deliverable designed to quickly and easily implement small changes that would improve Aeroflot’s profitability* Developed 3 year network and fleet plan for Copa Airlines* Worked with WestJet to coach and advise them through their first codeshare* Instrumental in the development of the first regional “virtual” alliance for 7 Middle Eastern airlines known as the Arabesk alliance* Led a Sabre team for Pakistan International Airlines consisting of Network, Scheduling, Revenue Management, Pricing and Cargo deliverables* Performed an organizational assessment for Schedule Planning at Korean Air* Ran a service bureau for Air Malta and Yemenia Airways providing off-site schedule forecasting * Developed close-in refleeting practices at Etihad Airways to improve their capacity allocation based on demand 3 weeks in future earning the company over $14 M annually

• Managed a staff of 14 employees responsible for identifying process improvements, setting staffing levels, mass and individual communications and strategic planning for the ATL airport• Responsible for day to day analysis and reporting of key performance indicators (KPIs) and developing strategies for improvement• Analyzed industry information sources (PLOG, DOT, etc.) and internal sources to establish performance trends and causes• Partnered with Finance and Corporate Division to develop budget and business plan• Managed other airline ground handling contracts and staffing needs for ATL airport• Process improvement projects that my team accomplished include: + Redefined above wing staffing requirements to compensate for flights with heavy passenger demand thereby providing customer service at minimal expense + Developed new method of boarding procedures to load passengers 7% quicker than current standards + Implemented express check-in for international passengers without checked luggage, reducing queue time

• Use Delta’s current fleeting to do “close in” aircraft swaps to generate additional revenue• Restructured Delta published schedule to include seasonal fluctuations (Multiseasonal Schedule)• Managed high profile corporate charter customers and sports team charter relationships

• Developed and implemented single connecting bank structure in JFK Airport for the Winter to optimize profitability• Developed new international schedule to compensate for 9/11 impact• Coordinated scheduling aspects of the closure of PDX gateway and reallocated the resource to other hubs • Implemented the pull down of Delta’s Asia service• Developed schedules and implementation of new Middle East markets• Constantly reviewed markets for operational, financial and marketing improvements• Coordinate with various departments to ensure the operational integrity, marketability, feasibility, financial profitability and mechanical reliability of the international routes were maintained• Manage and oversaw Delta’s multimillion dollar slot portfolio

• Led a team of 2 managers and 5 analysts to ensure Delta’s connection carriers offer a superior product and resolve any operational issues• Developed program to ensure our connection partners comply with Delta’s Airline Customer Service Commitment• Led integration team for Delta’s new connection carrier, ACA• Negotiated and finalized Trans States’ connection carrier contract based on an ASM buy agreement • Finalized Business Express contract extension, including the commuter slot trade for Delta shuttle service, after they were purchased by American Eagle.• Developed and evaluated operational performance incentives for the SkyWest ASM buy contract

• Developed models to test new schedule networks such as continuous hubbing, delinking, compressed hubbing and others• Designated financial allocation methods for new automated Profit and Loss systems• Developed model in SAS to monitor industry traffic patterns in short-haul vs. long-haul markets

• Chosen to represent the Planning Department in Delta’s low cost initiative, Leadership 7.5• Analyzed competitors’ activity for Senior Management and CEO• Developed reports and implemented procedures to model, analyze and improve Delta’s on-time performance• Performed standard scheduling duties such as upgrading/downgrading flights, retiming flights, ensuring all connections are maintained, rotating aircraft for maintenance requirements, rescheduling aircraft for improved financial performance, etc.• Experienced in both Delta short term scheduling (Current Schedules) as well as long term scheduling (Planning)• Proposal work includes phase II of DFW downsizing, establishing 2nd bank domestic feed at JFK, dismantling LAX-SFO corridor service• Coordinated with many departments to ensure that the flight schedule met Delta’s objectives• Responsible for developing schedules to transition the airline from one timetable to the next