A prestigious international aviation award for “Executive Leadership” has been won by American Airlines Chairman and CEO Gerard Arpey. The winners of the 2006 Airline Strategy Awards were announced before a distinguished audience of senior executives from the international air transport industry in London last night on the eve of the Farnborough Air Show.

The awards are organized by leading international aviation management publication, Airline Business. In addition to Executive Leadership the awards cover five other categories: Finance, Marketing, Operations, Technology, and Regional & Low Cost.

The award for Executive Leadership recognizes the airline executive who has demonstrated outstanding strategic thinking and leadership over the past year, including qualities such as a strong team leadership, success in business transformation and restructuring, establishing a clear corporate vision, and setting an innovative strategic direction. “As one of the judges put it—Gerard Arpey has done a remarkable job in an almost impossible industry environment,” said Mark Pilling, Airline Business editor.

“Any credit for the effectiveness of American’s strategy must go to the front line employees of our airline,” said Arpey. “Our employees have learned, adapted, and worked incredibly hard to save our company, and hopefully—though we still have a lot of work to do—position us for a bright future.”
——-