It's all hands on deck as Delta asks 'volunteers' to clean Sky Clubs

Last month, in an interview with TPG, Delta CEO Ed Bastian committed to reopening all Sky Club airport lounges by this summer.

While a handful of locations remain temporarily closed, many have already reopened, including a whopping eight at Delta's Atlanta (ATL) hub.

Unfortunately, the airline hasn't been able to restore staffing levels quickly enough — particularly in Atlanta. As referenced on FlyerTalk, and first reported by Twitter user "JonNYC", Delta is now calling on salaried employees to "volunteer" to help out with Sky Club shifts.

In a memo to employees, the airline stated that it's currently "severely understaffed in the ATL Sky Club" — apparently to the tune of 115 contractors. ATL-area employees are being asked to lend a hand: "Just come to the ATL airport for a few hours to help with cleaning, wiping tables, running food, restocking food buffets, etc.," the memo reads.

A spokesperson confirmed the move, explaining:

"Just as we’ve done for years with Peach Corps employee volunteers during our busiest travel seasons, we have asked Atlanta-based, salaried employees to volunteer in our Atlanta Delta Sky Clubs to help meet the rapid, recent increases in customer volumes and ensure that our teams continuously deliver the elevated Club experiences our customers have come to expect. No matter where a Delta employee works – whether in the operation or at headquarters – one thing consistent among all Delta people is their willingness to lend a hand. It is part of Delta’s culture and is the Delta Difference."

This particular request applies to salaried employees currently working in Delta's Atlanta headquarters — aside from designated staff, I wouldn't expect to find flight attendants, pilots and other non-HQ employees working in the lounge.

Delta is currently working with contractors to hire and onboard new Sky Club employees — since these particular jobs are on the "secure" side of the airport, extra security screening and training is involved, further complicating the process.

For now, "volunteers" can wear black slacks and a white shirt, according to the memo — if you encounter anyone who matches that description in an ATL Sky Club, I'd be extra gracious, given the unusual ask.