Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways has been full of surprises in recent days, beginning with the unveiling of its new Business Class products to news of the government choosing to transfer ownership of the airline to the sovereign wealth fund. But perhaps the biggest surprise is Etihad announcing that Antonoaldo Neves is its new Chief Executive Officer, replacing Tony Douglas.
Let's meet Etihad's new leader!
If you're wondering why Antonoaldo Neves rings a bell, it's probably because he was the former head of TAP Air Portugal. Neves was appointed as the Portuguese flag carrier's Chief Executive Officer in 2018 when he was brought in by airline entrepreneur David Neeleman - the current boss of low-cost carrier Breeze Airways. However, when the Portuguese government bought Neeleman's shares and TAP Air Portugal became state-owned, Neves was dismissed in 2020.
In his nearly three years with the flag carrier, Neves helped with fleet renewals and expanding routes from Europe to Africa and the Americas, basically overseeing the modernization of TAP Air Portugal. After being discharged from TAP Air Portugal, Neves started a digital travel company Ōner Travel.
His aviation history is solid. Before leading TAP Air Portugal, Neves was the President of Azul Airlines from 2014 to 2017, a position also introduced by the airline's founder, Neeleman.
While leading Azul, Neves was involved in the Brazilian carrier's acquisition of domestic carrier TRIP Linhas Aéreas. Neves was also on the board of the Empresa Brasileira de Infraestrutura Aeroportuária, a government airport operator that oversaw the majority of Brazilian commercial airports. And before all the aviation stints, Neves was a partner for 14 years at consulting giant McKinsey.
Its currently uncertain when Neves will start his new role, but the Brazilian is excited to lead Etihad, as he comments:
"Etihad is a globally well-known brand in the industry, and I am confident in helping it continue its journey of sustainable growth."
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Where will Tony Douglas head now?
With the appointment of Neves to lead Etihad, where does that leave the Middle Eastern carrier's current, and soon-to-be ex-chief? Tony Douglas has led Etihad since 2018 after the airline scrapped plans to compete with Emirates as an intercontinental mega hub, a strategy that failed and led to losses amounting to billions of dollars.
Within his four years in Etihad, Douglas has expressed pride in his disciplined leadership, which led to the strategic downsizing and successful rebuilding of Etihad, allowing the once-struggling carrier to become more competitive. The airline's fleet became more modern, its route network expanded, and it was able to recover from the pandemic much quicker than its competitors, having recently posted a record first-half profit.
Douglas announced his decision to leave last month as he wanted to pursue an unspecified opportunity. Etihad Chairman Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa highlighted:
"Tony has led Etihad through some of its most challenging times and has successfully turned the airline into a profitable and sustainable business over the past five years as part of its initial transformation program. We thank Tony for all the hard work he has delivered.
While the new opportunity may be unspecified, it is likely that Douglas will be in charge of Saudi Arabia's new airline startup and second flag carrier, RIA. In the meantime, Douglas will serve as an advisor to the board of ADQ Aviation and Aerospace Services Company during the transition period.
What do you think of Antonoaldo Neves being appointed as Etihad's new leader? Do you believe Neves and Douglas share similar leadership styles? Let us know in the comments below!
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Etihad Airways
- IATA/ICAO Code:
- EY/ETD
- Airline Type:
- Full Service Carrier
- Hub(s):
- Abu Dhabi International Airport
- Year Founded:
- 2003
- CEO:
- Tony Douglas
- Country:
- United Arab Emirates
-
TAP Air Portugal
- IATA/ICAO Code:
- TP/TAP
- Airline Type:
- Full Service Carrier
- Hub(s):
- Lisbon Airport
- Year Founded:
- 1945
- Alliance:
- Star Alliance
- CEO:
- Luís Rodrigues
- Country:
- Portugal
