Neeleman No Longer Blue
A new era is dawning at JetBlue Airways with the announcement that founder David Neeleman will leave the board of the New York-based low-fare carrier to focus on his new and as-yet unnamed Brazilian airline venture (see related story on page 16).
Neeleman was ousted from the post of JetBlue chief executive after a winter 2007 operational meltdown that included strandings of thousands of passengers at New York JFK airport. He then became non-executive chairman, but will surrender that post. Neeleman, who founded JetBlue in 1998 with an investment of $130 million, the highest funded start-up airline of its day, still holds about 7% of JetBlue's shares. The airline now serves 53 cities with 550 daily flights.
"I set out to bring humanity back to air travel, and we did just that by having the most talented crewmembers in the industry serving our customers," said Neeleman. "I want to thank JetBlue crewmembers for making the last 10 years great ones. My decision not to stand for re-election will allow me to focus my attention on my new Brazilian venture."
Neeleman's new low-fare carrier will operate Embraer E-195s from its Sao Paulo base. Neeleman knows the country, having been born there while his father was stationed there for the old UPI wire service he is a dual national of Brazil and the USA.
He also knows it from his youthful days as a missionary worker for his church.
Air India's New Chief
India's government has appointed a senior civil servant to head up Air India, replacing V Thulasidas, whose term as the leader of the carrier came to an end.
Raghu Menon formally became Air India's new chairman and managing director at the beginning of April.
He previously had a long career with India's Civil Aviation Ministry and was until his appointment as the head of the national carrier special secretary and financial advisor. He was the second-most senior civil servant at the ministry.
Air India merged last year with Indian Airlines and one of Menon's tasks will be to work to further integrate the operations of the carriers. The enlarged Air India, which is preparing to join the Star Alliance, has also been adding many new aircraft to its fleet and is considering placing another large aircraft order.
The government says Menon, who before joining the civil service many years ago worked as a journalist, was heavily involved in initiatives taken from 2003 to liberalise India's civil aviation sector.
Menon was already a director on the board of Air India's parent company as well as a member of the board of Airports Authority of India and other state-owned companies.
Kingshott Makes Manila Move
Gary Kingshott, the head of India's JetLite, is to move to the Philippines to take up a senior position with fast-growing low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific. Replacing him as head of Indian low-cost carrier JetLite is Maunu von Luders.
Cebu Pacific confirms that Kingshott will be joining as a senior consultant to the airline and Lance Gokongwei will remain as chief executive. Philippine laws bar foreigners from taking on the title of chief executive at local airlines.
Kingshott has since last year been heading JetLite, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of India's Jet Airways. Industry sources say Swedish low-cost carrier Flynordic head Maunu von Luders will be replacing him as chief executive.
Still Searching in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's government is still looking to appoint a new chief executive to head up national carrier SriLankan Airlines following the withdrawal of Emirates.
The 10-year management contract Emirates had with the government expired at the end of March after a deal was not secured for an extension. Emirates has said it is now looking to sell its more than 40% stake in SriLankan, which it bought into in 1998.
SriLankan was headed for most of the 10-year contract by Emirates appointee Peter Hill. No chief executive has been appointed to replace him but P B Jayasundera has been appointed chairman to represent the Sri Lankan government, which holds 51%. Emirates retains three board seats with its 43.63% stake.
In Brief
After less than a year in the post, Peter Negline, group chief financial officer at Singapore-based Tiger Airways, has left the airline. He joined the carrier in July 2007. He had been head of regional transportation research at JPMorgan Securities in Hong Kong.
Heads have rolled at British Airways following the chaos that surrounded the opening of Terminal 5 at London Heathrow in early April, with chief executive Willie Walsh axing operations director Gareth Kirkwood and customer services director David Noyes. Both were members of BA's 10-strong executive management team. The airline is seeking a chief operating officer to combine both roles.
Former IATA executive Julian Carr is joining bmibaby as commercial director.
Obituary
Middle Eastern flag-carrier Oman Air announced the sudden death of its chief executive Ziad Al-Haremi on 9 April. Al-Haremi had led the redevelopment of Oman Air as a stand-alone carrier for the sultanate and had been overseeing the reinstatement of long-haul services, a fleet-renewal programme and a change of image. The airline said he was taken ill suddenly with a suspected heart attack.
He was educated at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the USA and held qualifications in aircraft maintenance as well as a private pilot's licence.
Oman Air has appointed Darwish bin Ismail Al Balushi as acting chief executive. Al Balushi, under-secretary at Oman's ministry of finance, was joined the airline's executive committee last year.
Source: Airline Business
