All Interviews
-
Interview
How Hydroplane founder is drawing on her stellar engineering talent
In her role as chief executive of zero-emission general aviation propulsion developer Hydroplane, Anita Sengupta is drawing on some out-of-this-world engineering experience at NASA.
-
Interview
SkyTeam chief sees value of alliances back in vogue
SkyTeam chief executive Patrick Roux believes alliances are proving their worth to members, providing ways to accelerate co-operation among partner carriers and to develop seamless travel options for customers.
-
Interview
SunExpress chief on how carrier is stepping up in scale with new Max 10 order
SunExpress’ introduction of larger Boeing 737-10s as part of its new long-term follow-on order for Max jets underlines chief executive Max Kownatzki’s confidence the leisure carrier can continue to ride the Turkish boom which has seen it perform so strongly since the Covid pandemic.
-
Interview
‘It’s expensive to be small’: Atlantic Airways chief on success without scale
Atlantic Airways chief executive Johanna a Bergi does not equivocate when asked to name the biggest leadership challenge in running a small regional airline in Europe.
-
Interview
BOC Aviation bosses see upbeat outlook for world’s airlines
BOC Aviation’s incoming and outgoing chief executives feel the outlook is positive for global airlines, although different markets confront different challenges.
-
Interview
Why start-up Play is not rushing for growth despite reaching profit landmark
Icelandic budget carrier Play turned its first profit in the third quarter after a bright summer, but two and half years into the project, chief executive Birgir Jonsson is making sure the airline does not drift away from the basics
-
Interview
United Airlines’ customer chief on ‘day of travel’ power of the airline app
While United Airlines' customers are able to engage across a range of platforms and timeframes, for the carrier's chief customer officer Linda Jojo many of the advances with airline apps centre around their ability to support ‘day of travel’ functionality.
-
Interview
JetSmart zeroes in on another Latin American jewel: Colombia
Start-up ultra-low-cost carrier JetSmart is on the cusp of securing an air operator certificate (AOC) in a fourth country, Colombia. That will allow the airline to fly domestic routes in nations from the very north of the South American continent to its southern tip.
-
Interview
ALTA chief seeks policies to enable Latin American and Caribbean to ‘unleash potential’
As Jose Ricardo Botelho hosts his third ALTA Airline Leaders Forum as the group’s executive director, the region’s aviation industry has much to be proud of
-
Interview
Wheels Up’s new chief executive lays out recovery plan as Delta ties tighten
Just two weeks into the job, the new head of Wheels Up arrives as this year’s NBAA business aviation show with a turnaround plan resting on operational rigour, more corporate business, fleet changes and closer ties with 39% owner Delta Air Lines.
-
Interview
Air Nostrum chief on why CityJet tie-up still has compelling rationale
Even though it has taken almost five years to get the deal over the line, the coming together of European regional carriers Air Nostrum and CityJet still has a compelling rationale, in the view of the Spanish carrier’s chief executive Carlos Bertomeu.
-
Interview
Riyadh Air closing in on narrowbody order as Douglas continues groundwork
Riyadh Air is set to place its expected narrowbody aircraft order “in the coming months” as Tony Douglas, chief executive of the ambitious Saudi Arabian start-up, continues to plot the national carrier’s launch path.
-
Interview
ATR chief targets 40-plus deliveries in 2023 as ‘recovery on track’
Twelve months into her four-year mandate as ATR’s first female chief executive, Nathalie Tarnaud Laude maintains the Toulouse-based airframer’s recovery is “on track” and that it will deliver at least 40 aircraft this year, after shipping 20 units in the first eight months.
-
Interview
Philippine Airlines chief eyes growth after successful restructuring
A major restructuring exercise amid the depths of the coronavirus pandemic has put spring in the step of Philippine Airlines.
-
Interview
How ambition drove Nicole Battjes to form Rainbow Helicopters
Honolulu-based Nicole Battjes built her helicopter tour company from scratch, starting with just $5,000 and a dream. Its assets recently delivered relief supplies after a devastating fire in Lahaina.
-
Interview
How Mesfin Tasew is delivering the next phase of growth at Ethiopian Airlines
Drawing on almost four decades of experience with the business, Ethiopian Airlines chief executive Mesfin Tasew is guiding Africa’s stand-out performer into its next growth phase
-
Interview
Bonza finds its wings with Australia’s infrequent fliers
Australian low-cost start-up Bonza is making traction with its unique business model, which aims to stimulate demand among infrequent fliers on largely un-served routes.
-
Interview
Born during the pandemic, Taiwan’s Starlux now makes up for lost time
Few airlines share their launch date with known global events – let alone a pandemic. For Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines, it is now making up for lost time, aiming to reap the benefits of its transit-centric business model.
-
Interview
How Peter Foster is keeping Air Astana on a growth path despite post-Covid challenges
Under the long-term leadership of Peter Foster, Kazakhstan’s flag carrier managed to remain profitable last year as it grew above pre-Covid traffic levels, having already moved back into the black in 2021. And its growth is continuing this year
-
Interview
What drew BAE Systems’ Elizabeth Seward to a career in space industry
Inspired by the science fiction books she read as a teenager, Elizabeth Seward has forged a stellar career in the space sector and is now head of space strategy and future business at BAE Systems.