From Jetblue Airways to Airbus
C. Jeffrey Knittel is retiring as chairman and chief executive officer of Airbus Americas, effective 3 June 2024, after having been the region’s top executive since 2018. He will remain with Airbus for a transition period. Robin Hayes, former CEO of Jetblue Airways, has been selected to succeed him.
Hayes brings 35 years of global aerospace leadership to Airbus having worked in a series of senior executive roles at British Airways over the course of his 19-year tenure, and Jetblue, where he was CEO for nine years.
From 2020 to 2022, Hayes was chair of Iata’s board of governors, where he championed the association’s commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. He will report to Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury.
The region has more than 10,000 Airbus employees at 50 sites. Additionally, Airbus spends USD 15 billion annually with more than 2,000 US suppliers in over 40 states. (cj)