Airline Strategy Awards 2007 – The Winners Are Announced

Airline Business magazine, in partnership with executive search firm Spencer Stuart, last night revealed the winners of the sixth annual Airline Strategy Awards at a glittering gala dinner at historic Lincoln’s Inn in London. The winners of the following categories were announced:

Executive Leadership — Jean-Cyril Spinetta, Chairman, Air France and Leo van Wijk, Chief Executive, KLM

Regional & Low Cost Leadership — Joe Leonard, Chief Executive, AirTran Airways

Finance — Cathay Pacific Airways

Marketing — Singapore Airlines

Operations — Jetstar

Technology — Royal Jordanian Airlines

The Airline Business Award, made by the magazine to recognise an individual who has made a lasting strategic contribution to the air transport industry, was presented to Norman Mineta, former US Secretary of Transportation, who was the guest of honour at the event.

Mineta, who had been the longest serving US Transportation Secretary when he left office in 2006, has been one of the industry’s most accomplished and trusted government officials for the past three decades. He was at the helm through the terrorist attacks of September 2001 and has been a constant advocate of market liberalisation.

“Thank you for this great honour. I feel especially honoured to follow Dr Assad Kotaite, the head of ICAO [who won the Airline Business Award last year]. Said Mineta, “On behalf of the 62,000 employees at the US Department of Transportation I would like to say thank you.”

For the Executive Leadership Award judges selected the visionary and ambitious strategy of Air France and KLM and their leaders Jean-Cyril Spinetta and Leo van Wijk. The two airlines merged in 2003, creating the world’s largest airline group.

Although still relatively young, the merger has been skilfully handled by Spinetta and van Wijk, balancing political and labour sensitivities while also generating cost and operational synergies and boosting group profits. “They have done an exceptional job in making the merger happen,” said one of the Airline Strategy Award judges.

In the Regional and Low Cost Leadership category US low-fare carrier AirTran Airways and its Chief Executive Joe Leonard were recognised for an innovative strategy that has produced consistent profits in an extremely tight market.

“The 2007 Airline Strategy Awards once again demonstrate the extremely high quality of leadership among our leading carriers. It is an industry that is performing remarkably well in a climate that never seems to get any easier and one that constantly requires outstanding leaders,” said Mark Pilling, editor of Airline Business.

Notes:

For the full citations on each category visit: www.strategyawards2007.com/winners_2007

The winners are selected by an independent panel of industry experts. For the full list visit www.strategyawards2007.com/judging.

The Awards are sponsored by some of the industry’s leading suppliers: GE Aviation, SITA, Unisys, UATP, Amadeus, American Express and Travelport.

About Airline Business:

Airline Business is the leading monthly title for airline boardrooms worldwide. It is part of the Flight Group, and a sister publication of Flight International, Air Transport Intelligence and flightglobal.com. It has been published for 22 years covering the strategic and business issues of the day in the air transport industry. It has editorial offices in London, Washington and Singapore.

About Spencer Stuart:

Spencer Stuart is one of the world’s leading executive search consulting firms. Privately held since 1956, Spencer Stuart applies its extensive knowledge of industries, functions and talent to advise select clients — ranging from major multinationals to emerging companies to non-profit organisations — and address their leadership requirements. Through 50 offices in more than 25 countries and a broad range of practice groups, Spencer Stuart consultants focus on senior-level executive search, board director appointments, succession planning and in-depth senior executive management assessments. Spencer Stuart’s Global Aviation Practice serves the needs of airline, aerospace, airport, and related aviation sector clients around the globe.