Theo Panagiotoulias has been chosen to take over as CEO of Star Alliance, the first and largest global airline alliance in the world. Panagiotoulias has more than 25 years of experience working internationally in the aviation and airline sectors. From Hawaiian Airlines, where he served as Senior Vice President for Global Sales and Alliances since 2014, he joins Star Alliance. Prior to joining Sabre Corporation, a supplier of travel technology, Panagiotoulias served as VP and GM (Asia Pacific). He also spent 15 years working for American Airlines, where he held several commercial, operational, and managerial responsibilities. His whole bio is included.
Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines and Chairman of the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board, expressed his congratulations to Theo on being chosen as the organization’s next CEO. “Theo has a solid awareness of the difficulties and possibilities facing our sector today because to his expertise in international commercial and airline operations. He is the ideal candidate, in my opinion, to steer Star Alliance into the future.
“Star Alliance connects the world,” declared Panagiotoulias. “With its 26 member airlines, more than 200 million passengers fly on more than 16,000 flights every day. The transformation to provide a more seamless passenger experience has also been spearheaded by the Alliance. It is a privilege for me to head the Star Alliance team and collaborate with our 26 member airlines as we continue to innovate as the top airline alliance in the world.
Panagiotoulias will succeed Charlotta Wieland, who has been acting as Star Alliance’s interim CEO since January 2023 on a secondment from SAS – Scandinavian Airlines. With the hiring of Panagiotoulias, Ms. Wieland will rejoin SAS and the Star Alliance’s Alliance Management Board as the organization’s representative. The appointment of Panagiotoulias is anticipated to become effective in the upcoming months, subject to the successful fulfillment of various formalities and permissions.I want to congratulate Charlotta for her contribution to Star Alliance as temporary CEO and welcome her back to her place on the Alliance Management Board on behalf of Star Alliance and its member carriers’, said Mr Kirby.
In 2022, Skytrax recognised Star Alliance as the World’s Best Airline Alliance. In addition to providing awards and recognition for regular international passengers, it seeks to promote a seamless, high-quality traveler experience among its 26 member carriers. This includes facilitating seamless transfers over a vast global network.
Source: traveldailymedia