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

Etihad Aviation Group confirmed Tuesday that CEO James Hogan and CFO James Rigney will leave the company in the second half of the year. Hogan, a high-profile industry figure and long-time fixture as head of Etihad, prepares to leave as financial difficulties at several of the airlines in which the company holds large stakes weigh on the profitability of the Abu-Dhabi based carrier. In a statement, Etihad said the Board and Hogan began the “transition process” last year with the formation in May of the Etihad Aviation Group, which now serves as the parent company of Etihad Airways. &nbsp;&nbsp;


“To position the company for continued success in a challenging market, the board and management team will continue an ongoing, company-wide strategic review,” said Etihad group chairman Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei. “We must ensure that the airline is the right size and the right shape.”


Al Mazrouei’s comments effectively confirm that the airline has begun to reassess some of its equity partnerships. The airline holds stakes in Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Air Berlin, Alitalia, Etihad Regional, Jet Airways and Virgin Australia. Last month Etihad Airways unveiled plans to create a new European leisure airline group in a joint venture with TUI AG. It also announced new codeshare agreement with Lufthansa and an aircraft leasing agreement between Air Berlin and Lufthansa. Meanwhile, it stressed that it remains an active participant in the next phase of Alitalia’s restructuring plan.&nbsp;


“We must continue to improve cost efficiency, productivity and revenue,” added Al Mazrouei. “We must progress and adjust our airline equity partnerships even as we remain committed to the strategy.”


Asked by AIN last month to confirm reports of Hogan’s eventual departure, an Etihad spokeswoman said the airline does not comment on “unsubstantiated rumors in the marketplace.” However, she did concede that the airline had begun to undergo organizational reviews and a “controlled restructuring” that would result in a “measured reduction” in headcount throughout the organization.


“Etihad Airways is operating in an increasingly competitive landscape,&nbsp;against a backdrop of weakened global economic conditions,” the airline said in a written statement. “To&nbsp;ensure&nbsp;we remain agile and competitive in this environment, we constantly explore and pursue new ways of driving productivity and improving efficiency so that we can continue to deliver on our mandate and vision. This involves an ongoing process of organizational reviews and restructuring in different parts of the business in order to reduce costs and improve productivity and revenue.”

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

James Hogan To Step Down as Etihad CEO

Move comes as part of a “controlled restructuring.” 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

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.

Britain's new government is under pressure to invest in public infrastructure

How Regional Air Mobility Could Boost the UK's Strained Transport Network

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

Danish charter and scheduled operator could buy up to 15 of the electric seaplanes

Nordic Seaplanes Signs for Elfly's Noemi Electric Amphibious Aircraft

Odys' blown-wing design is being developed for both uncrewed freighter and piloted airliner roles

Fiji Airways Plans To Connect Pacific Islands with Laila VTOL

Scotland-based regional airline aims to achieve zero carbon emissions

Loganair and Heart Team To Decarbonize UK Domestic Flights

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

UK green start-up airline wants to operate domestic services with zero carbon emissions

Ecojet Plans To Operate Arc Aerosystems' Linx P9 Hybrid Helicopter

Cathy Buyck

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

Ryanair to Use Jeppesen FliteDeck Pro 5.0 EFB 

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

More In Airlines

How Regional Air Mobility Could Boost the UK's Strained Transport Network

Britain's new government is under pressure to invest in public infrastructure

Nordic Seaplanes Signs for Elfly's Noemi Electric Amphibious Aircraft

Danish charter and scheduled operator could buy up to 15 of the electric seaplanes

Fiji Airways Plans To Connect Pacific Islands with Laila VTOL

Odys' blown-wing design is being developed for both uncrewed freighter and piloted airliner roles

Loganair and Heart Team To Decarbonize UK Domestic Flights

Scotland-based regional airline aims to achieve zero carbon emissions

Ecojet Plans To Operate Arc Aerosystems' Linx P9 Hybrid Helicopter

UK green start-up airline wants to operate domestic services with zero carbon emissions

Ryanair to Use Jeppesen FliteDeck Pro 5.0 EFB

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

EVA Air Selects GEnx Engines to Power Additional Boeing 787s

The Taiwanese airline already operates 15 GEnx-powered 787s

Wilbur Air Plans to Operate Crisalion's Integrity eVTOL in Australia

Wilbur Air is a subsidiary of advanced air mobility ground infrastructure group Skyportz

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN