Willie Walsh takes charge at British Airways

The drive for improvement in all aspects of British Airways’ business must continue, Willie Walsh said as he began work as the airline’s new chief executive 1 October 2005.

He praised the record of Sir Rod Eddington, and stressed his determination to realise his predecessor’s goals of a 10% operating margin and a smooth relocation of the airline’s Heathrow operations to Terminal 5 in 2008.

Mr Walsh, 43, has spent the five months since he joined the company meeting customers and staff across the airline.

He said, “We have made tremendous progress in the last five years but I’ve been very impressed by the fact that everyone I’ve met at British Airways believes there is room for further improvement.

“All our customers are important to us and service will be at the heart of everything we do at British Airways. We must redouble our efforts to make this airline more efficient, more focused and better able to serve our customers. British Airways has a renowned reputation for premium travel and my aim is to make sure that we deliver a world class experience for all.”

He said his top priority was to ensure a successful move to Terminal 5 in March 2008, in less than two and a half years’ time. And he made clear his commitment to establish, with the trade unions, new working practices.

Mr Walsh joined British Airways as chief executive designate on 3 May 2005. He succeeded Sir Rod Eddington as chief executive on 1 October, exactly 26 years after starting his career in the airline industry.

He was a commercial pilot with Aer Lingus for 18 years until 1997 when he became chief executive of Futura, Aer Lingus’ charter airline in Spain. In 1999, he became chief operating officer for the parent airline in Dublin. In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, he was appointed Aer Lingus chief executive, going on over the next three years to transform the carrier from near-bankruptcy to one of Europe’s most profitable.

Willie is married with a daughter. In his limited spare time, he enjoys most sports – particularly golf and football.

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