Willie Walsh for the RAC London

Straight back from the IATA AGM and conference at Boston IATA Director General Willie Walsh will next Wednesday (13 October) be the Guest of Honour for an Aviation Club of the United Kingdom lunch at the London Royal Automobile Club.  Bookings for the lunch close today (Monday 11 October) 12 noon  and guests are welcome. secretary@aviationclub.org.uk

Hopefully he will be able bring good news regarding the proposed lifting of restrictions by the United States government.  The unrealistic border controls did have an impact on the AGM attendance.

Willie Walsh (59) began his airline life as a trainee pilot at Aer Lingus.  He acquired a Master's degree in management and business administration from Trinity College, Dublin, during his pilot years, while advancing to become a Boeing 737 captain.

Walsh climbed the Aer Lingus management ladder becoming CEO in 2001, but left in 2005 after a failed management takeover, essentially thwarted by the pilot unions. He became that year the only unemployed guest speaker ever at the Aviation Club.  This was followed by a short engagement at Virgin Atlantic.

Walsh joined British Airways as the choice of the then current Rod (later Sir Rod) Edington as the future CEO, the post he held until the creation of IAG in 2011, where he became Chief Executive.  Walsh stood down in September 2020 replacing the retiring Alexandre de Juniac as IATA Director General the following November.

Also see COMMENT: Willie Walsh at IATA in Boston in this week's BTN.

https://aviationclub.org.uk

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