Executive Leadership: Africa & Middle East 

Winner:  Rodger Foster, Airlink

For the leadership 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 

Winner: Goh Choon Phong, Singapore Airlines

For the leadership 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

Winner: Guliz Ozturk, Pegasus

 Executive Leadership: Europe

For the leadership 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.

Sponsored by Cirium

Executive Leadership: North America

Winner: Ben Minicucci, Alaska Air Group

For the leadership 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

Winner: Estuardo Ortiz, JetSmart

For the leadership 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

Winner: John Dietrich and Michael Steen, Atlas Air Worldwide

For the airline or business unit providing heavy air cargo or express/courier services who 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.

Sponsored by SmartKargo

Digital Leadership 

Winner: Volaris

Recognising an airline which has successfully shown 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;

Sponsored by Volantio

ESG Leadership 

Winner: Air New ZealandRecognising an airline that demonstrates leadership in the field of environment, social and governance and sustainability, 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

Sponsored by CFM

The Airline Business Award 

Winner: Doug Parker

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.

Sponsored by Tampa International Airport