Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

UK regional airline Flybe has appointed Christine Ourmieres-Widener as its chief executive officer effective January 16, the company announced Tuesday. Ourmieres-Widener replaces Saad Hammad, who left Flybe in October by “mutual agreement” after three years as CEO. Flybe chairman Simon Laffin, who now serves as interim CEO, will return to his position as non-executive chairman once Ourmieres-Widener’s appointment takes effect. &nbsp;

 


Ourmieres-Widener has spent her entire career in the aviation and travel industries, most recently serving as chief global sales officer for American Express Global Business Travel. Between 2010 and 2015, she ran Irish regional airline Cityjet as its chief executive officer after serving a long stint with Air France and Air France-KLM, where she finally served as its New York-based vice president.

 


Ourmieres-Widener joins Flybe nine months after the company reported a fiscal-year profit for the first time since its 2010 IPO. Starting in 2013, Hammad administered a reversal in fleet strategy that saw the airline remove most of its Embraer E195s from service in favor of a predominantly turboprop fleet consisting of Bombardier Q400s. But not until this past spring did the company manage to report positive results, namely for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016.

 


In September the company announced the completion of Hammad’s three-year transformation plan, which included a capital raise, a brand re-launch and exit from its Flybe Finland joint venture. Most notably, however, it agreed with Embraer and U.S. regional carrier Republic Airways in 2014 to swap 20 new E195s ordered in 2010 for 24 ex-Republic Q400s in an effort to cut costs and seat capacity growth. Early this year it reached an agreement with Q400 lessor NAC to cancel delivery of nine of the 24 Bombardier turboprops. As part of the deal, it took ownership of 10 of the remaining Q400s, earning the airline a 12-percent return on capital and affording it more flexibility for deployment or divestiture of aircraft. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

Flybe Names Former Cityjet Boss As New CEO

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2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

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News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

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News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

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News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

The Boeing electronic flight bag solution will support the low-cost carrier’s 737NG and Max fleet

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News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

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