Mike Szücs, new Ceo of Spanair

Barcelona, 21st May 2009. Spanair announces the appointment of Mike Szücs as the new  Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Mike Szücs, a British national, is currently CEO of the Mexican airline Viva Aerobús and will replace the current CEO Marcus Hedblom. Hedblom will leave his current position following the incorporation of Szücs in the next weeks.

Mike Szücs is 43 years of age and joins Spanair after a long career within the air industry, where he has held diverse operational, sales and management positions. He graduated from the University of Manchester with a First Class Honors Degree in Aeronautical Engenieering. He started his career in aviation as a pilot in British Airways, where he served successively as Chief Pilot and General Manager for World Sales. He worked between 2003 and 2006 as Director of Operations in EasyJet and in October 2006 he joined the Mexican airline Viva Aerobús as CEO.

 With this appointment Spanair completes the formation of a top management team, with a solid international background whose contribution will be key to the achievements of the challenges Spanair is facing in its new stage.

“I want to welcome Szücs. I am confident that his proven experience, managerial skills and dynamism will be a major force in achieving our Business Plan as well as will help to the consolidation of Spanair as a global company with a wide choice of domestic and international destinations in conjunction with other Star Alliance airlines. At the same time I want to thank Marcus Hedblom’s strong commitment leading Spanair, his deep and full dedication in the very difficult times of the recent history of our Company ”, said Ferran Soriano, president of Spanair.

 “Working in Spanair is very challenging. It’s a difficult time for the air industry. However, I am convinced that with the support of our clients and employees we will be able to take advantage of our competitive strengths to make of Spanair a leading company in the air industry”,  said Szücs.

Spanair and the Star Alliance members carriers serving Barcelona airport have begun its preparations for their move to the new Terminal 1 at Barcelona Airport Spanair and its the Star Alliance partners will be the first to operate from this new facility the 17th June.

Spanair
Spanair, the Spanish carrier specialized in the business traveller, was founded in 1986. It is since 2003 a member of Star Alliance, the largest and the world’s most prestigious alliance.
Spanair is the second largest airline in Spain. It has a share of 23% of Spanish domestic market: 10,2 million passengers in 2008. It has a very significant position in the El Prat Barcelona airport - where it was the leading airline in 2008 both in number of passengers (1.7 million) and number of flights (18,916 operations) -, Barajas Madrid and Son Sant Joan Palma de Mallorca. Currently, Spanair operates over 200 daily flights: 87 % as a scheduled carrier (67 domestic routes and 13 routes across Europe and Africa) and a 13% as a charter, primarily during the summer.
Spanair revenues in 2008 were over 1,000 million EUR. The company has 3,161 employees and a fleet of 48 aircrafts.