Subscribe For FreeUnsubscribeContact UsSEARCHAbout TNU
BTN ArchiveTNU ArchiveSoapboxOn TourMotoringCruisingAND FINALLY

Article from TNU APRIL 2023

Aviation Club & Wizz

Jozsef Váradi, once of Malev Hungarian Airlines.Wizz Air founder and Chief Executive, the sometimes controversial (remember the Cardiff and Doncaster cancellations & BBC story with a good ending www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-64999557), Jozsef Váradi will make a return visit to the Aviation Club of the United Kingdom on Tuesday 18 April.  He did appear by video at the height of the pandemic in October 2020. The Club’s Annual General Meeting takes place prior to the luncheon.

Wizz Air was born in 2003 competing with the state-owned Malev Hungarian Airlines which finally collapsed in 2012.  Váradi, whose education included a spell at the University of London for a law degree, was for ten years with Proctor and Gamble rising to Sales Director for Central and Eastern Europe.  

In February 2015 Wizz Air Holdings Plc started trading on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and in 2018 created Wizz Air UK with UK-registered aircraft. The current UK Managing Director, since 2021, is a French lady, Marion Geoffroy, a graduate of Université Paris Sud, having joined the carrier in 2015 as General Counsel.  

Wizz Air recently announced the launch of a new inclusive ‘She Can Fly’ cadet programme at the Wizz Air Pilot Academy, for women wishing to become commercial pilots.

The airline currently operates around 175 Airbus A320 series aircraft.  

Wizz is a member of Airlines UK and for the third quarter of 2022 announced £800m turnover compared to £360m a year before. Net income was £33m compared to a net loss of €232m

The Aviation Club has now published the full luncheon diary for 2023.

Following Váradi on Thursday 8 June at the Royal Overseas League (ROSL) is John Holland-Kaye, with what will be his final appearance as CEO of Heathrow Airport, followed on Tuesday 12 September by Gael Meheust, President and CEO, CFM, also lunch at the ROSL.  

The Club returns to the RAC for its final 2023 lunches with Sir Stephen Hillier, Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority on Wednesday 8 November and Tuesday 5 December, Mesfin Tasew Bekele, CEO, Ethiopian Airlines, since March 2022, when he replaced the very popular Tewolde Gebremariam who has retired. https://www.aviationclub.org.uk

The Club’s second forum event was held on Wednesday 1 March in central London and hosted over 60 attendees drawn from Club members, industry guests and the Young Aviation Professionals group. Additionally a number of students and their lecturers were welcomed from the University of Surrey and University of West London. The session was held in association with Club supporter BDO at their state of the art auditorium facility in Baker Street, and included pre-lecture drinks and canapes, a 60 minute interactive panel discussion followed by a one hour break-out Reception for further networking. The Panel comprised Jonathon Counsell, Group Head of Sustainability for IAG, Tim House, COO of BDO’s Sustainability/ESG Advisory Practice, and Barry Moss of Advocet. The event was hosted by Charles Morelli of BDO.

This second edition, titled ‘Practical ESG Solutions for the Aviation Sector’, was a much requested follow-on session from the launch event on 19 October 2022 – ‘Net Zero Pioneers and Financing’. Panellists Jaspal Jandu, CEO of LCI, Gabriel Lepine, VP of Strategic Finance at Zero Avia and Dr Amy Ruddock, VP Europe and Middle East at Carbon Engineering started discussion through their debate, held at the RAF Club, London. A recording of this session can be found HERE, or under the SPEAKERS tab on www.aviationclub.org.uk.

Both sessions were mediated by Forum Working Group Chairman Michael Halaby, content producer and champion of the Club’s Forum programme. ‘We recognised that we needed to create a formal platform for members to explore , learn and discuss more about some of the important, topical industry matters, outside of the existing events programme. The Forum was created to offer an interactive, deeper-delve into subject matter identified by members. At each Forum event we are able to share knowledge and discuss the subject matter in an open arena, with the opportunity of continuing in more depth and in smaller groups at the break-out Receptions.’. Halaby continues, ‘Feedback from attendees has been extremely positive and its great to see a broad mix of people attending these events, including the next generation of industry decision makers. We plan to continue with a programme of three sessions per year and are always open to content suggestion ‘.

On 6 December 2022 the Aviation Club’s YAP group and The Air League came together for a Christmas Reception, held at the Royal Over-Seas League, St James’s.

Some 100 guests attended the event, which was enjoyed by all. A photo gallery of the evening can be viewed at the following link https://airleague.co.uk/news/2022-christmas-reception

On Tuesday 6 September 2022 Club members and guests were joined by guest speaker Shai Weiss. Club Chairman, Karl Brunjes led an informal fireside chat with Shai followed by questions from the floor.

Report by Flight Global – https://www.flightglobal.com/strategy/virgin-chief-prepped-for-subdued-2023-but-no-sign-yet-of-bookings-impact/151238.article

On Friday 17 June a small group of Club members spent a sunny afternoon wine tasting at Artelium vineyard, East Sussex. Following a tour of the vineyard the team enjoyed some time relaxing in the beautiful courtyard surroundings and learning about the different wines available from these British winemakers. After a very convivial afternoon, and the opportunity to purchase the best of English wine, at a generous discount, the group agreed the visit made the perfect start to the weekend.

Article courtesy of https://www.btnews.co.uk/article/19121

With Farnborough coming up (begins Monday 18 July) The Aviation Club of the United Kingdom has invited Stan Deal, Executive VP of The Boeing Company and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, to the RAC London for its next lunch, Thursday 16 June.

Stan Deal has been Executive VP & CEO of The Boeing Company since 2019.The timing is perfect with Deal expected to attend the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting which starts in Doha the following Sunday.

Described as a ‘fireside chat’ Deal, who has been at Boeing since 1986, will be interviewed by Club Chairman Karl Brünjes followed by a question-and-answer session from the floor.  The confirmation of a major IAG order for the Boeing MAX will no doubt be discussed.   

Since joining Boeing Deal’s broad range of positions has included leading integrated product teams for propulsion systems and structures on the 717 programme and serving as Programme Manager for the MD-11 Japan Airlines programme.  Stan was named in his current position in October 2019.  He is now responsible for delivering a family of super-efficient aeroplanes to worldwide customers and leading the growth of the company’s commercial aeroplane programmes.  

Some 150 guests, drawn from Aviation Club UK members and delegates attending the Airline Economics Growth Frontiers Dublin 2022 Conference gathered on Sunday 8 May at the intercontinental, Dublin for the third edition of the Aviation Club of the UK’s ‘Dublin Dinner’.  American businessman and industry figure head Steven Udvar-Hazy joined the gathering as guest of honour and spoke about discussed the present position of aviation leasing and shared his personal views on the current and short-term future of the market.  Previous events have welcomed guest speakers Willie Walsh and Gus Kelley, Aircap. 

‘The Dublin Dinner has established itself as a popular and important event on the Club’s annual events programme.  The pandemic meant a cancellation in 2021 and several date changes to this year’s event, but the increased attendance numbers of 150 from 85 in 2020, demonstrate the value in face-to-face networking and the appetite and appreciation for  the  much  welcomed return to physical events.’  Said club Chairman Karl Brunjes.  He went on to thank the generous  ongoing support of the Bank of China and Airline Economics, without whom the dinner would not be possible.  A recording of Steve Udvar-Hazy’s speech is available at  The Aviation Club UK Speakers.

The next Aviation Club lunch will be held on Thursday 16 June at the RAC, London, with guest speaker Stan Deal, President and CEO Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Tickets are available for members and their guests from the club website – www.aviationclub.org.uk.