Turkish Airlines chief executive Temel Kotil and Adel Ali, group chief executive of Air Arabia, took the top honours at last night’s Airline Strategy Awards organised by Airline Business magazine in partnership with executive search firm Spencer Stuart.
The Executive Leadership Award went to Kotil, while Ali was presented with the Airline Business Award.
Kotil was recognised by the judges for the transformation he has led at Turkish, where he has created a major force on the global airline stage.
“Ten years ago, Turkish was a regional carrier. Kotil has led an astonishing transformation at the airline, turning it from a regional carrier into a truly global player,” said Max Kingsley-Jones, editor of Airline Business.
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The Airline Business Award this year recognised Adel Ali, boss of UAE carrier Air Arabia.
“Over the last decade, Ali has established Air Arabia across the Gulf with its innovative multi-hub network, bringing low-cost air travel to a new group of travellers,” said Kingsley-Jones. “In doing so, Ali has navigated many challenges and established Air Arabia as a profitable business and the region’s leading low-cost carrier.”
Kotil and Ali were joined among the 2014 winners by Spirit Airlines president and chief executive Ben Baldanza, who landed the award for Low Cost Leadership, and Hawaiian Airlines president and chief executive Mark Dunkerley, who was recognised for Regional Leadership.
SAS Group won the Finance award, while the Marketing award went to British Airways. In the Technology, Environment and Operations category, Alaska Airlines was victorious.
“The airline industry is currently buoyant, but challenges remain,” said Kingsley-Jones. “Only those carriers led by strong, innovative management teams like those we recognised this evening will survive and prosper. Over the last 13 years, The Airline Strategy Awards have recognised the industry’s highest achievers in boardroom leadership, and 2014’s winners all excel in this regard.”
For more on the Airline Strategy Awards, visit www.strategyawards.com
Source: Cirium Dashboard
