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{{short description|Irish airline executive}}
{{short description|Irish airline executive}}
{{BLP sources|date=May 2022}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2015}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Willie Walsh
| name = Willie Walsh
| image = Willie Walsh.jpg
| image = Willie Walsh (cropped).jpg
⚫
| caption = Walsh in 2016
| birth_name = William Matthew Walsh
| birth_name = William Matthew Walsh
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1961|10|25}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1961|10|25}}
Line 10: Line 12:
| nationality = Irish
| nationality = Irish
| occupation = Businessman
| occupation = Businessman
⚫
| employer = [[International Air Transport Association]]
| salary = €7.89 million (2016)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/iag-chief-willie-walsh-s-pay-packet-rises-to-8-8-million-1.2578412/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9MTMzNTg4fENoaWxkSUQ9LTF8VHlwZT0z&t=1|location=London|work=Annual Report and Accounts 2011|title=IAG Annual Report and Accounts 2011}}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} p. 58</ref>
| title = Director general of the International Air Transport Association
| years_active = 2001–2020
| known_for = CEO of International Airlines Group
⚫
| employer = [[International Airlines Group]]
| title = [[Chief Executive Officer]]
| term = January 2011 – September 2020
| successor = [[Luis Gallego]]
| net_worth = £1 Million - £5 Million (2020)
⚫
| spouse = Divorced
}}
}}
'''William Matthew Walsh''' (born 25 October 1961) is an Irish airline executive. He was CEO of [[International Airlines Group]], and has been CEO of [[Aer Lingus]] and [[British Airways]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2005-05-29/willie-walsh|title=Willie Walsh – Businessweek|work=businessweek.com|accessdate=22 August 2012}}</ref>
'''William Matthew Walsh''' (born 25 October 1961) is an Irish airline executive who is currently the Director General of the [[International Air Transport Association]]. Until 2020, he was CEO of [[International Airlines Group]], and had previously been CEO of [[Aer Lingus]] and [[British Airways]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2005-05-29/willie-walsh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831211133/http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2005-05-29/willie-walsh|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 August 2012|title=Willie Walsh – Businessweek|work=businessweek.com|date=30 May 2005|access-date=22 August 2012}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
Walsh was born in [[Dublin]], Ireland. He attended his local secondary school [[Ardscoil Rís, Dublin|Ardscoil Rís]]. At age 17 he became a pilot at Irish [[flag carrier]] Aer Lingus, joining as a [[cadet]] in 1979.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|date=2005-03-08|title=Walsh named as new British Airways CEO|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2005/0308/60713-aerlingus/|language=en}}</ref> He acquired a [[Master of Science in Management|Master's degree]] in management and business administration from [[Trinity College, Dublin]] during his pilot years, while advancing to become a [[Boeing 737]] captain.<ref name=":0">''AW&ST'', 24 March 2014, p. 46</ref>
Walsh was born in [[Dublin]], Ireland. He attended his local secondary school [[Ardscoil Rís, Dublin|Ardscoil Rís]]. At age 17 he became a pilot at Irish [[flag carrier]] Aer Lingus, joining as a [[cadet]] in 1979.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2005-03-08 |title=Walsh named as new British Airways CEO |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2005/0308/60713-aerlingus/ |work=RTE News |language=en}}</ref> He acquired a [[Master of Science in Management|Master's degree]] in management and business administration from [[Trinity College, Dublin]] during his pilot years, while advancing to become a [[Boeing 737]] captain.<ref name=":0">''AW&ST'', 24 March 2014, p. 46</ref>


He joined company management in various positions including chief executive of then company subsidiary, [[Futura International Airways|Futura]] from 1998 to 2000.<ref name=":1" /> He returned to Aer Lingus in 2000 as Chief Operating Officer (COO).<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />
He joined company management in various positions including chief executive of then company subsidiary, [[Futura International Airways|Futura]] from 1998 to 2000.<ref name=":1" /> He returned to Aer Lingus in 2000 as Chief Operating Officer (COO).<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />



==Career==
==Career==
In October 2001, Walsh was elevated from COO to CEO of Aer Lingus, succeeding Michael Foley who had resigned following a harassment complaint.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/aer-lingus-resolves-dispute-with-former-chief-1.926873|title=Aer Lingus resolves dispute with former chief|website=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-02-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/confirmation-of-walsh-as-ceo-likely-1.332789|title=Confirmation of Walsh as CEO likely|website=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-02-12}}</ref> The carrier was in financial difficulty. Walsh eliminated 2,000 staff positions and reconfigured Aer Lingus as a [[low-cost airline]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/willie-walsh-leaves-daunting-challenges-for-successor-in-flight-shaming-era-1.4136028|title=Willie Walsh leaves daunting challenges for successor in flight-shaming era|last=Brennan|first=Joe|website=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-04-13}}</ref> He also withdrew various services like short-haul Business Class<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/aer-lingus-mulls-return-of-business-class-on-its-short-haul-services-30845341.html|title=Aer Lingus mulls return of business class on its short-haul services|last=Mulligan|first=John|date=17 December 2014|website=Independent|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> and restricted the airline's [[frequent-flyer program]]me, TAB.{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}
In October 2001, Walsh was elevated from COO to CEO of Aer Lingus, succeeding Michael Foley, who had resigned following a harassment complaint.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/aer-lingus-resolves-dispute-with-former-chief-1.926873|title=Aer Lingus resolves dispute with former chief|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-02-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/confirmation-of-walsh-as-ceo-likely-1.332789|title=Confirmation of Walsh as CEO likely|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-02-12}}</ref> The carrier was in financial difficulty. Walsh eliminated 2,000 staff positions and reconfigured Aer Lingus as a [[low-cost airline]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/willie-walsh-leaves-daunting-challenges-for-successor-in-flight-shaming-era-1.4136028|title=Willie Walsh leaves daunting challenges for successor in flight-shaming era|last=Brennan|first=Joe|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-04-13}}</ref> He also withdrew various services like short-haul Business Class<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/aer-lingus-mulls-return-of-business-class-on-its-short-haul-services-30845341.html|title=Aer Lingus mulls return of business class on its short-haul services|last=Mulligan|first=John|date=17 December 2014|website=Independent}}</ref> and restricted the airline's [[frequent-flyer program]]me, TAB.{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}


The company operating profits rebounded, but the cost of the write-offs and redundancies meant that net profitability was not as quick to recover. Not all of Walsh's reforms were successful, such as the outsourcing of aircraft cleaning. The contracting had not been agreed with Aer Lingus unions which led to large payments to the private contractor while Aer Lingus employees did the cleaning work. A three-day [[lockout (industry)|lock-out]] occurred in 2002 during the peak of the cutbacks.
The company operating profits rebounded, but the cost of the write-offs and redundancies meant that net profitability was not as quick to recover. Not all of Walsh's reforms were successful, such as the outsourcing of aircraft cleaning. The contracting had not been agreed with Aer Lingus unions, which led to large payments to the private contractor while Aer Lingus employees did the cleaning work. A three-day [[lockout (industry)|lock-out]] occurred in 2002 during the peak of the cutbacks.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}


The management team suggested to the principal shareholder, the [[Irish Government]], a float of Aer Lingus on the [[stock market]]. Stock floats are often rewarding to top management and this was opposed by the unions who feared a privatised Aer Lingus would impose even tougher working conditions. The Government eventually turned down the float and Walsh resigned from the company in January 2005.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Martinson|first=Jane|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/jun/30/theairlineindustry.britishairways|title=Willie Walsh: The pistol-wielding Bambi who thrives in a crisis|date=2006-06-30|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-04-13|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
The management team suggested to the principal shareholder, the [[Irish Government]], a float of Aer Lingus on the [[stock market]]. Stock floats are often rewarding to top management and this was opposed by the unions who feared a privatised Aer Lingus would impose even tougher working conditions. The Government eventually turned down the float, and Walsh resigned from the company in January 2005.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Martinson|first=Jane|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/jun/30/theairlineindustry.britishairways|title=Willie Walsh: The pistol-wielding Bambi who thrives in a crisis|date=2006-06-30|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-04-13|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>


The Taoiseach [[Bertie Ahern]] subsequently described Walsh's offer of an MBO as ''"a time when management wanted to steal the assets for themselves through a management buy out, shafting staff interests"''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=DAL20060517.xml&Dail=29&Ex=All&Page=1|title=Dáil record, 17 May 2006}}</ref>
The Taoiseach [[Bertie Ahern]] subsequently described Walsh's offer of an MBO as ''"a time when management wanted to steal the assets for themselves through a management buy out, shafting staff interests"''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=DAL20060517.xml&Dail=29&Ex=All&Page=1|title=Dáil record, 17 May 2006}}</ref>


[[Dermot Mannion]], formerly of [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]], succeeded Walsh as Aer Lingus chief executive officer in August 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/mannion-resigns-as-head-of-aer-lingus-1.738728|title=Mannion resigns as head of Aer Lingus|last=Slattery|first=Laura|website=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-02-12}}</ref>
[[Dermot Mannion]], formerly of [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]], succeeded Walsh as Aer Lingus chief executive officer in August 2005.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/mannion-resigns-as-head-of-aer-lingus-1.738728|title=Mannion resigns as head of Aer Lingus|last=Slattery|first=Laura|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-02-12}}</ref>


Before joining British Airways, he briefly worked at the top of [[Virgin Atlantic]] but left after a short while due to a falling out with his boss. After he left, he went to [[British Airways]], where he would replace [[Rod Eddington]] at the end of his contract.<ref name=":1" /> Walsh was hired in May 2005, with a six-month shadowing period to get to know the business before the departure of Eddington on October 2005.<ref name=":1" />
He went to [[British Airways]], where he would replace [[Rod Eddington]] at the end of his contract.<ref name=":1" /> Walsh was hired in May 2005, with a six-month shadowing period to get to know the business before the departure of Eddington in October 2005.<ref name=":1" />


Willie Walsh became CEO of British Airways in October 2005.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lyons|first=William|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703580904575131603526602656|title=BA's Walsh Seen as Formidable Negotiator|date=2010-03-19|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2020-04-13|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}</ref>
Walsh became CEO of [[British Airways]] in October 2005.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lyons|first=William|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703580904575131603526602656|title=BA's Walsh Seen as Formidable Negotiator|date=2010-03-19|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2020-04-13|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}</ref>


The major challenges for the airline industry were exacerbated by various natural events such as snow, fog and volcanic ash. He described the closure of European airspace in April 2010 over worries about the ash plume from an [[2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull|erupting Icelandic volcano]] as a "gross over-reaction to a very minor risk".
The major challenges for the airline industry were exacerbated by various natural events such as snow, fog and volcanic ash. He described the closure of European airspace in April 2010 over worries about the ash plume from an [[2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull|erupting Icelandic volcano]] as a "gross over-reaction to a very minor risk".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-05-25 |title=The real danger to air passengers is not the ash cloud &ndash; it's |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/the-real-danger-to-air-passengers-is-not-the-ash-cloud-ndash-it-s-these-men-2289097.html |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>


Walsh oversaw the merger of British Airways and [[Iberia (airline)|Iberia]] forming a new holding company [[International Airlines Group]] (IAG) in January 2011. He also created a Joint Business Agreement with Iberia and [[American Airlines]], meaning the three airlines now market and sell each other's seats and share revenue on trans-Atlantic routes.
Walsh oversaw the merger of British Airways and [[Iberia (airline)|Iberia]] forming a new holding company [[International Airlines Group]] (IAG) in January 2011. He also created a Joint Business Agreement with Iberia and [[American Airlines]], meaning the three airlines now market and sell each other's seats and share revenue on trans-Atlantic routes.


On 24 January 2011, Willie Walsh became chief executive of IAG, which is the parent company of BA and Iberia. Both airlines are members of the [[Oneworld]] alliance. It was announced on 9 January 2020 that he would be stepping down as CEO in March 2020, however Walsh announced on 16 March that he intended to delay his retirement in order to help the airline trade through the outbreak of COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/willie-walsh-defers-iag-retirement-to-tackle-covid-19-1.4203972|title=Willie Walsh defers IAG retirement to tackle Covid-19|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref>
On 24 January 2011, Walsh became chief executive of IAG, which is the parent company of BA and Iberia. Both airlines are members of the [[Oneworld]] alliance. It was announced on 9 January 2020 that he would be stepping down as CEO in March 2020, however Walsh announced on 16 March that he intended to delay his retirement in order to help the airline trade through the outbreak of COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/willie-walsh-defers-iag-retirement-to-tackle-covid-19-1.4203972|title=Willie Walsh defers IAG retirement to tackle Covid-19|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] }}</ref> Walsh officially retired from IAG in September 2020, and was succeeded by [[Luis Gallego (businessman)|Luis Gallego]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-09 |title=Willie Walsh to stand down as boss of British Airways owner |url=http://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/jan/09/willie-walsh-stand-down-boss-british-airways-owner-international-airlines-group |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref>

On 24 November 2020, Walsh was appointed as the Director General of the [[International Air Transport Association]] (IATA), effective from April 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://airlines.iata.org/news/willie-walsh-accepts-iata-dg-role|title=Willie Walsh accepts IATA DG role|website=airlines.iata.org|date=24 November 2020}}</ref>


==Recognitions and honours==
==Recognitions and honours==
In March 2014, ''[[Aviation Week & Space Technology]]'' magazine named Walsh as its 2014 Laureate for Commercial Aviation.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_01_20_2014_p47-653508.xml&p=4|title=Aviation Week's 2014 Laureate Nominees|last=|first=|date=|website=AW&ST|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419213540/http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_01_20_2014_p47-653508.xml&p=4|archive-date=19 April 2014|access-date=}}</ref>
In March 2014, ''[[Aviation Week & Space Technology]]'' magazine named Walsh as its 2014 Laureate for Commercial Aviation.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_01_20_2014_p47-653508.xml&p=4|title=Aviation Week's 2014 Laureate Nominees|website=AW&ST|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419213540/http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_01_20_2014_p47-653508.xml&p=4|archive-date=19 April 2014}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051204072757/http://www.iata.org/ps/events/agm/2004/speakers/aer_lingus_willie_walsh.htm 2004 IATA conference speaker list with some details of Walsh's Aer Lingus career]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051204072757/http://www.iata.org/ps/events/agm/2004/speakers/aer_lingus_willie_walsh.htm 2004 IATA conference speaker list with some details of Walsh's Aer Lingus career]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061012231631/http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/index.php?menuID=2&subID=47 First Post article comparing Walsh to Ryanair's Michael O'Leary]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061012231631/http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/index.php?menuID=2&subID=47 First Post article comparing Walsh to Ryanair's Michael O'Leary]
*[https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/pressroom-archive/2020-speeches/2020-11-24-02/ Acceptance Speech of Willie Walsh, Director General Designate, 76th AGM]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm_wGHqA-hE IATA World Financial Symposium]


{{S-start}}
{{S-start}}
{{S-bus}}
{{S-bus}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Rod Eddington|Sir Rob Eddington]]}}
{{S-bef|before=Michael Foley}}
{{S-ttl|title= CEO of [[Aer Lingus]]|years=2001&ndash;2005}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Dermot Mannion]] }}
{{S-bef|before=[[Rod Eddington|Sir Rod Eddington]]}}
{{S-ttl|title= CEO of [[British Airways]]|years=2005&ndash;2010}}
{{S-ttl|title= CEO of [[British Airways]]|years=2005&ndash;2010}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Keith Williams (businessman)|Keith Williams]] }}
{{S-aft|after=[[Keith Williams (businessman)|Keith Williams]] }}
{{S-bef|before=New company}}
{{S-non|reason=New company}}
{{S-ttl|title=CEO of [[International Airlines Group]]|years=2011&ndash;2020}}
{{S-ttl|title=CEO of [[International Airlines Group]]|years=2011&ndash;2020}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Luis Gallego]]}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Luis Gallego (businessman)|Luis Gallego]]}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Alexandre de Juniac]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=Director General of the [[International Air Transport Association]]|years=2021–present}}
{{S-inc}}
{{S-end}}
{{S-end}}


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[[Category:Alumni of Trinity College Dublin]]
[[Category:Alumni of Trinity College Dublin]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from County Dublin]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from County Dublin]]
[[Category:Irish chief executives]]
[[Category:British Airways people]]
[[Category:British Airways people]]
[[Category:Aer Lingus]]
[[Category:Aer Lingus]]
[[Category:Chief operating officers]]
[[Category:Chief operating officers]]
[[Category:Chief executives in the airline industry]]
[[Category:Irish airline chief executives]]
[[Category:Irish aviators]]
[[Category:Aviators from Dublin (city)]]
[[Category:People from Artane, Dublin]]
[[Category:People from Artane, Dublin]]
[[Category:International Air Transport Association]]

Revision as of 18:06, 8 July 2024

Willie Walsh
Walsh in 2016
Born
William Matthew Walsh

(1961-10-25) 25 October 1961 (age 62)
Dublin, Ireland
NationalityIrish
OccupationBusinessman
EmployerInternational Air Transport Association
TitleDirector general of the International Air Transport Association

William Matthew Walsh (born 25 October 1961) is an Irish airline executive who is currently the Director General of the International Air Transport Association. Until 2020, he was CEO of International Airlines Group, and had previously been CEO of Aer Lingus and British Airways.[1]

Early life

Walsh was born in Dublin, Ireland. He attended his local secondary school Ardscoil Rís. At age 17 he became a pilot at Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus, joining as a cadet in 1979.[2] 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.[3]

He joined company management in various positions including chief executive of then company subsidiary, Futura from 1998 to 2000.[2] He returned to Aer Lingus in 2000 as Chief Operating Officer (COO).[2][3]


Career

In October 2001, Walsh was elevated from COO to CEO of Aer Lingus, succeeding Michael Foley, who had resigned following a harassment complaint.[4][5] The carrier was in financial difficulty. Walsh eliminated 2,000 staff positions and reconfigured Aer Lingus as a low-cost airline.[6] He also withdrew various services like short-haul Business Class[7] and restricted the airline's frequent-flyer programme, TAB.[citation needed]

The company operating profits rebounded, but the cost of the write-offs and redundancies meant that net profitability was not as quick to recover. Not all of Walsh's reforms were successful, such as the outsourcing of aircraft cleaning. The contracting had not been agreed with Aer Lingus unions, which led to large payments to the private contractor while Aer Lingus employees did the cleaning work. A three-day lock-out occurred in 2002 during the peak of the cutbacks.[citation needed]

The management team suggested to the principal shareholder, the Irish Government, a float of Aer Lingus on the stock market. Stock floats are often rewarding to top management and this was opposed by the unions who feared a privatised Aer Lingus would impose even tougher working conditions. The Government eventually turned down the float, and Walsh resigned from the company in January 2005.[8]

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern subsequently described Walsh's offer of an MBO as "a time when management wanted to steal the assets for themselves through a management buy out, shafting staff interests".[9]

Dermot Mannion, formerly of Emirates, succeeded Walsh as Aer Lingus chief executive officer in August 2005.[10]

He went to British Airways, where he would replace Rod Eddington at the end of his contract.[2] Walsh was hired in May 2005, with a six-month shadowing period to get to know the business before the departure of Eddington in October 2005.[2]

Walsh became CEO of British Airways in October 2005.[11]

The major challenges for the airline industry were exacerbated by various natural events such as snow, fog and volcanic ash. He described the closure of European airspace in April 2010 over worries about the ash plume from an erupting Icelandic volcano as a "gross over-reaction to a very minor risk".[12]

Walsh oversaw the merger of British Airways and Iberia forming a new holding company International Airlines Group (IAG) in January 2011. He also created a Joint Business Agreement with Iberia and American Airlines, meaning the three airlines now market and sell each other's seats and share revenue on trans-Atlantic routes.

On 24 January 2011, Walsh became chief executive of IAG, which is the parent company of BA and Iberia. Both airlines are members of the Oneworld alliance. It was announced on 9 January 2020 that he would be stepping down as CEO in March 2020, however Walsh announced on 16 March that he intended to delay his retirement in order to help the airline trade through the outbreak of COVID-19.[13] Walsh officially retired from IAG in September 2020, and was succeeded by Luis Gallego.[14]

On 24 November 2020, Walsh was appointed as the Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), effective from April 2021.[15]

Recognitions and honours

In March 2014, Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine named Walsh as its 2014 Laureate for Commercial Aviation.[3][16]

References

  1. ^ "Willie Walsh – Businessweek". businessweek.com. 30 May 2005. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Walsh named as new British Airways CEO". RTE News. 8 March 2005.
  3. ^ a b c AW&ST, 24 March 2014, p. 46
  4. ^ "Aer Lingus resolves dispute with former chief". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Confirmation of Walsh as CEO likely". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  6. ^ Brennan, Joe. "Willie Walsh leaves daunting challenges for successor in flight-shaming era". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  7. ^ Mulligan, John (17 December 2014). "Aer Lingus mulls return of business class on its short-haul services". Independent.
  8. ^ Martinson, Jane (30 June 2006). "Willie Walsh: The pistol-wielding Bambi who thrives in a crisis". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  9. ^ "Dáil record, 17 May 2006".
  10. ^ Slattery, Laura. "Mannion resigns as head of Aer Lingus". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  11. ^ Lyons, William (19 March 2010). "BA's Walsh Seen as Formidable Negotiator". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  12. ^ "The real danger to air passengers is not the ash cloud – it's". The Independent. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Willie Walsh defers IAG retirement to tackle Covid-19". The Irish Times.
  14. ^ "Willie Walsh to stand down as boss of British Airways owner". the Guardian. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  15. ^ "Willie Walsh accepts IATA DG role". airlines.iata.org. 24 November 2020.
  16. ^ "Aviation Week's 2014 Laureate Nominees". AW&ST. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Willie Walsh.
Business positions
Preceded by
Michael Foley
 CEO of Aer Lingus
2001–2005 		Succeeded by
Preceded by CEO of British Airways
2005–2010 		Succeeded by
New company CEO of International Airlines Group
2011–2020 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Director General of the International Air Transport Association
2021–present 		Incumbent
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