Latest interviews – Page 7
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Airline BusinessRex chairman ups the ante in tough Australian market
With its expansion into narrowbody operations, Australia’s Regional Express (Rex) offers a rare story of growth and ambition in a global airline industry reeling from the coronavirus pandemic.
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Airline BusinessVaccines, testing key for Asia-Pacific recovery this year: IATA
IATA’s Asia-Pacific head Conrad Clifford is optimistic that vaccines will start to relieve the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, but that airlines still face a very tough year.
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Airline BusinessKLM chief Elbers on vaccine boost, state support and ‘building back better’
With a government support package secured and better news on the health outlook, KLM is approaching 2021 on much more ‘solid ground’, according to the airline’s chief executive Pieter Elbers
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Airline BusinessDe Juniac on why IATA focus is still on crisis management
The association’s director general Alexandre de Juniac will address the AGM on 24 November with IATA very much still in crisis management mode.
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Airline BusinessIATA’s Mikosz on testing challenge for airline restart – and beyond
One of the risks for the airline industry when some kind of normality returns is states using the cover of public health to protect struggling carriers by restricting market access.
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Airline BusinessCrisis CO2 levels highlight scale of airline challenge: IATA sustainability chief
The huge reduction in emissions from commercial airlines in 2020 paradoxically highlights the scale of the challenge ahead for the industry to meet its sustainability targets, according to IATA’s director of aviation environment, Michael Gill.
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Airline BusinessTopi Manner on shaping Finnair for a post-pandemic market
The chief executive of the state-owned carrier explains how a ‘financial bazooka’ will help it through the crisis, and how it plans to emerge as a premium airline with a continued focus on Europe-Asia routes
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Airline BusinessIstanbul airport chief on guiding a new hub through the Covid crisis
The chief executive of Istanbul’s nascent hub describes how the coronavirus crisis hit the business just after a huge capital investment – and how he plans to ensure it emerges from the downturn as a strong global player
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Airline BusinessAir Astana puts post-crisis focus onto domestic and leisure markets
Strong business in the Kazakh domestic market and an increased focus on point-to-point and leisure routes are key to revamped activity at Air Astana as the global pandemic continues to change the airline market.
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Airline BusinessPandemic forces Vistara to press pause on rapid growth
Indian carrier Vistara entered 2020 with plans for rapid growth, but the coronavirus pandemic has kept the airline from meeting its full potential. Vinod Kannan is chief commercial officer (CCO) at Vistara, a joint venture between Singapore Airlines and Indian conglomerate Tata Sons. He served in a number of roles ...
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Airline BusinessTim Clark reflects on Emirates’ incredible journey
As he nears his departure after more than three decades at the heart of Emirates Airline, Tim Clark tells FlightGlobal how the Middle Eastern operator went from minnow to global player
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Airline BusinessRwandAir chief Makolo on recovery, Qatar and pan-African aims
The Covid crisis may have created numerous immediate challenges, but RwandAir chief Yvonne Makolo says the carrier has many reasons for optimism about its long-term future
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Airline BusinessNew Jeju Air boss sees pandemic as defining moment
The chief executive of South Korean low-cost carrier Jeju Air is focusing on the basics as the airline grapples with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. E-Bae Kim has been chief executive of Jeju Air since 1 June, following a 30-year career with Asiana Airlines. His predecessor in the role, ...
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Airline BusinessSriLankan 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 at ...
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Airline BusinessMyanmar 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 its ...
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Airline BusinessSkyTeam 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.
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Airline BusinessNew 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 course ...
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Airline BusinessAirlines 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 half ...
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Airline BusinessQatar 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.
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Airline BusinessIATA 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 ...