Categories 2026

Executive Leadership: Africa and Middle East

For the chief executive and/or executive team of an airline/group operating from Africa and/or the Middle East which has demonstrated outstanding strategic leadership, exhibited by actions through any of the following:

• Outstanding new strategic thinking in response to a dynamic environment;
• Agile corporate repositioning or adjustment to capture new marketplace opportunities or address threats;
• Business transformation or restructuring;
• Innovative customer-focused initiatives including new product or service development;
• Strong and visible leadership of his/her people; or
• Industry-wide leadership with an impact on industry conditions.

Executive Leadership: Asia-Pacific

For the chief executive and/or executive team of an airline/group operating from Asia-Pacific which has demonstrated outstanding strategic leadership, exhibited by actions through any of the following:

• Outstanding new strategic thinking in response to a dynamic environment;
• Agile corporate repositioning or adjustment to capture new marketplace opportunities or address threats;
• Business transformation or restructuring;
• Innovative customer-focused initiatives including new product or service development;
• Strong and visible leadership of his/her people; or
• Industry-wide leadership with an impact on industry conditions.

Executive Leadership: Europe

For the chief executive and/or executive team of an airline/group operating from Europe which has demonstrated outstanding strategic leadership, exhibited by actions through any of the following:

• Outstanding new strategic thinking in response to a dynamic environment;
• Agile corporate repositioning or adjustment to capture new marketplace opportunities or address threats;
• Business transformation or restructuring;
• Innovative customer-focused initiatives including new product or service development;
• Strong and visible leadership of his/her people; or
• Industry-wide leadership with an impact on industry conditions.

Executive Leadership: North America

For the chief executive and/or executive team of an airline/group operating from North America which has demonstrated outstanding strategic leadership, exhibited by actions through any of the following:

• Outstanding new strategic thinking in response to a dynamic environment;
• Agile corporate repositioning or adjustment to capture new marketplace opportunities or address threats;
• Business transformation or restructuring;
• Innovative customer-focused initiatives including new product or service development;
• Strong and visible leadership of his/her people; or
• Industry-wide leadership with an impact on industry conditions.

Executive Leadership: Latin America & Caribbean

For the chief executive and/or executive team of an airline/group operating from Latin America which has demonstrated outstanding strategic leadership, exhibited by actions through any of the following:

• Outstanding new strategic thinking in response to a dynamic environment;
• Agile corporate repositioning or adjustment to capture new marketplace opportunities or address threats;
• Business transformation or restructuring;
• Innovative customer-focused initiatives including new product or service development;
• Strong and visible leadership of his/her people; or
• Industry-wide leadership with an impact on industry conditions.

Air-Cargo Leadership

For an executive team overseeing heavy air cargo or express/courier services that has demonstrated outstanding strategic leadership, exhibited by actions through any of the following:

• Outstanding new strategic thinking in response to a dynamic environment;
• Agile corporate repositioning or adjustment to capture new marketplace opportunities or address threats;
• Business transformation or restructuring;
• Innovative customer-focused initiatives including new product or service development;
• Strong and visible leadership of his/her people in a time of crisis; or
• Industry-wide leadership with an impact on industry conditions.

Digital Leadership

Recognising an executive team which has successfully demonstrated digital innovation or excellence in the market, either consumer-facing or supporting business transformation. This could recognise either an overall strategy or a development in specific sector or technology field. This could include examples where an airline

• Exploited a new or emerging technology to develop new ways for customers to pay-for, access or engage with its services;
• Supported the wider-monetisation of airline services;
• Used technology to improve the efficiency of its operations;

ESG Leadership

Recognising an executive team that demonstrates leadership in the field of environment, social and governance (ESG), exhibited by the airline’s actions through any of the following:

• Environmental protection and consciousness;
• Embedding long-term sustainability objectives into business planning and culture;
• Innovating with new technological or business developments to help achieve environmental goals;
• Advances diversity and inclusion in the organisation through diversity of a leadership team; promoting and advancing the careers of diverse leaders; and creating organisational conditions that contribute to attracting and retaining diverse leaders and professionals.
• Support of underprivileged classes or groups;
• Humanitarian aid; and
• Good corporate citizenship

Airline Business Award

This special award is made by Airline Business to recognise an individual making a lasting strategic contribution to the air transport business. Unlike the other awards, the final decision rests with the Airline Business team and represents recognition of strong leadership and strategic thinking.