All Interviews – Page 9
-
Interview
Airbus Americas CEO optimistic in 2021 uptick, predicts ‘morphing’ of industry
The top Airbus executive in North America thinks industry conditions will improve at least incrementally in 2021 but that aerospace companies and airlines will emerge from the downturn changed in ways yet unknown.
-
Interview
Babcock Australasia sees Bell 429 as special forces star
While UK-headquartered Babcock’s defence credentials in Australia are clear – notably in the naval sector – the company hopes that its civil rotorcraft experience in the country will enable it to prevail in a three-way contest to supply Canberra with new special forces helicopters.
-
Interview
SriLankan focuses on cargo, repatriation pending traffic recovery
SriLankan Airlines chairman Ashok Pathirage has had to navigate an extremely challenging environment since assuming his role in December 2019. A prominent Sri Lankan businessman, Pathirage is also the chairman and founder of local conglomerate Softlogic Holdings, and runs other local companies as well. He joined the national carrier ...
-
Interview
Myanmar Airways International bucks trend with planned growth
Myanmar Airways International (MAI) is struggling as much as any airline amid the coronavirus pandemic, but chief executive Saravanan Ramasamy sees opportunity in crisis. The full-service airline is by no means the region’s biggest or most famous carrier, operating a pair of Airbus A319s and a single A320 from ...
-
Interview
SkyTeam chief sees crisis creating fresh focus for airline alliances
SkyTeam is marking the start of its third decade with a fresh focus on supporting industry efforts to rebuild passenger confidence in flying, and on accelerating a ‘contactless’ travel experience offering across its alliance members.
-
Interview
Australian MRO Heston eyes ‘disciplined growth’ regionally
Heston MRO will embark on a “staged and disciplined growth path”, focusing on its core business of the Oceania region in the short term, before expansion to the wider Asia-Pacific market. The Brisbane-based MRO’s chief executive Asta Zirlyte tells FlightGlobal that the MRO will complete its “organic expansion of ...
-
Interview
Embraer looks beyond coronavirus to a changed Asia-Pacific travel market
Beyond the near-term challenges from the coronavirus pandemic, Embraer believes Asia-Pacific airlines will seek to optimise their fleets through the adoption of more smaller jets. Cesar Pereira is vice president, Asia-Pacific of Embraer Commercial Aviation. The Singapore-based executive’s sales territory covers the entire Asia-Pacific region apart from China. In ...
-
Interview
New chief has big plans for ACI, but crisis recovery comes first
The new director general of airports body ACI World has grand plans to increase the profile and reach of the organisation – but knows he must first oversee the industry’s recovery from an unprecedented crisis, as the coronavirus pandemic halves passenger traffic in 2020. “The short-term [goal] is of ...
-
Interview
Business minister on why UK government is committed to saving UK aerospace
Nadhim Zahawi is UK business minister with a brief that includes aerospace and advanced manufacturing. In an interview on the eve of FIA Connect, he outlined to FlightGlobal the government’s support package for the sector, its ongoing commitment to green aviation, and the prospects for a “smooth transition” for aerospace once the country’s transition period with the EU ends in December
-
Interview
Delivering innovative programmes for VA Airline Training
Anthony Petteford is managing director of VA Airline Training, based in the UK, where he strives to balance the equally important needs of trainees, airlines and their sponsors
-
Interview
Airlines urgently need winter waiver decision: IATA slots chief
Airlines urgently require regulatory bodies to waive the 80:20 slot rule for the northern hemisphere winter season, according to Lara Maughan, head of worldwide airport slots at IATA. Absent decisions to do so by the end of July – particularly from the European Commission, which has regulatory oversight of ...
-
Interview
Spencer Hoggarth on shaping technical training at Flying Colours
With a background in engineering, Spencer Hoggarth now oversees training at MRO firm Flying Colours. Having just opened its largest hangar so far, the business sees developing new recruits as vital to growth
-
Interview
New GMF AeroAsia boss looks to diversification for survival
As GMF AeroAsia navigates a post-pandemic future, its new chief executive I Wayan Susena says the MRO must diversify and keep costs down.
-
Interview
Jim Noonan maximises the value of business aircraft for Global Jet Capital
Jim Noonan is senior managing director for the asset management arm of Global Jet Capital. The US aircraft finance and leasing company has a portfolio of more than 140 clients representing a mix of corporations and high-net-worth individuals
-
Interview
Indian MRO firm Air Works eyes new vistas in engines, components
Despite upheaval caused by the coronavirus outbreak in nearly every part of the aviation industry, Indian MRO Air Works is upbeat about growth prospects, as it looks towards greater collaboration and rides a domestic resurgence. Stressing that “there couldn’t be a better time”, Air Works chief executive and managing ...
-
Interview
Aircraft valet Stefan Murphy cleans up in good times and bad
Stefan Murphy is founder and managing director of Up & Away Aviation, a valeting firm for business and commercial aircraft that has reacted swiftly to provide disinfecting services during the pandemic
-
Interview
RNZAF chief eyes big region, broad requirements
The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) operates in a vast geography that ranges from idyllic Pacific islands to Antarctica, and also deals with a broad array of missions. RNZAF chief Air Vice Marshal Andrew Clark says that the missions of the broader New Zealand Defence Force fall into ...
-
Interview
Qatar Airways chief Al Baker on reactive approach to crisis
A reactive strategy has helped Qatar Airways keep a significant number of aircraft flying in the crisis, says group chief executive Akbar Al Baker, as the airline prepares for the recovery.
-
Interview
IATA chief De Juniac on challenges ahead for airline recovery
Airlines have been at the sharp end of coronavirus crisis as air travel markets locked down, but the bigger challenge is in how quickly and effectively they reopen. IATA chief executive Alexandre de Juniac believes implementing common standards will be key in global efforts to restore confidence in safe air ...
-
Interview
Video interview with Qatar's Al Baker on how the airline is handling Covid crisis
In an in-depth and exclusive discussion with FlightGlobal, Akbar Al Baker, chief executive of Qatar Airways Group, explains how the coronavirus pandemic has affected his airline.