CAPA Awards: Ethiopian Group CEO Named Airline Executive of the Year

British Airways, Swoop and Spirit Airlines have been recognised among the top airlines at CAPA’s annual Global Aviation Awards for Excellence in Malta. The nine award categories covering airlines, airports and aviation leadership were presented at a dazzling ceremony at the Westin Dragonara Resort in St Julian’s, attended by over 150 aviation luminaries from across the globe as part of the 2019 CAPA World Aviation Outlook Summit.

Regarded as the pre-eminent awards for strategic excellence in aviation, CAPA first established the awards in 2003 to recognise successful airlines and airports based in the Asia Pacific region. The awards later expanded to the global stage in 2012 to acknowledge aviation excellence worldwide.

CAPA – Centre for Aviation (CAPA), Chairman Emeritus, Peter Harbison said: “In the dynamic and ever-evolving environment of the aviation industry, CAPA’s Global Aviation Awards for Excellence serve as an opportunity to stop and recognise key achievements across our industry over the last 12 months and celebrate with industry peers.”

The six winners in the airline category namely Airline of the Year: British Airways, Airline Executive of the Year: Ethiopian Airlines, Low Cost Airline of the Year: Spirit Airlines, Regional Airline of the Year: airBaltic, Airline Turnaround of the Year: LOT Polish Airlines, and Start-Up Airline of the Year: Swoop represent carriers that have shown the greatest strategic impact on the development of the airline industry within their class, and have established themselves as leaders, providing a benchmark for others.

The three winners in the airport category as well namely Large Airport of the Year: Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, Medium Airport of the Year: Vienna International Airport, and Regional/Small Airport of the Year: Seville Airport were awarded base on their demonstration in the utmost strategic leadership across the globe and taken significant steps to progress the aviation industry in the last 12 months.

Two additional Special Recognition awards were also presented. The first went to Johnny Thorsen who was recognised for Innovation in the Aviation and Travel Sector – and the second award went to Leslie Cassar for Outstanding Service to Australian and Maltese Aviation.

About CAPA – Centre for Aviation

CAPA – Centre for Aviation (CAPA), part of Aviation Week Network, is the leading provider of independent aviation market intelligence, analysis and data services covering worldwide developments. Established in 1990, CAPA’s platforms help the aviation sector and supplier businesses stay informed, remain connected to industry leaders and fuel inspiration to drive change. CAPA’s global C-level and corporate travel summits are held in key aviation markets around the world, attracting executive level speakers, attendees and leading stakeholders of the global commercial aviation industry. Understanding aviation markets is our great strength and passion, along with providing CAPA members, clients and partners with an unparalleled level of expertise and insight. For more information and details on membership and events, please visit centreforaviation.com.

Aviation Week Network, the largest multimedia information and services provider for the global aviation, aerospace, and defence industries, serving 1.7 million professionals around the world, is part of Informa Markets, a division of Informa PLC.