Key Commercial Aviation Executives To Watch In 2025

Airbus’ long-term push for autonomous flight is facing headwinds, with major players in aviation expressing opposition or withdrawing support. The airframer’s innovation arm, Airbus UpNext, has been at the forefront of the quest for autonomy, potentially enabling single-pilot operations as a first step. UpNext has conducted three autonomy demonstration programs, the latest dubbed Optimate. With the European Union Aviation Safety Agency having replaced “autonomous flight” with “advanced automation,” Augello and his team face a reality check.

Facing another tough year of balancing increased geared turbofan production for Airbus and returning compliant engines to operators, Deurloo aims to deliver on Pratt & Whitney’s goal of steadying the ship in 2025. Since being appointed to his role in 2022, Deurloo has led efforts to rectify the powdered-metal issues that continue to plague the GTF-powered A320neo family, while adding to the global MRO network to accelerate the return to service program. Although supply chain issues continue to slow production rate recovery, material constraints appear to be easing. Deurloo also is overseeing the planned transition to the upgraded PW1100G Advantage version, certification of which is expected early in 2025.

Regional turboprops seemed to have a bright future, with their environmental credentials and the global insatiable appetite for air travel. But since the mid-2010s, reality has been contradicting expectations. The new year may indicate whether Tarnaud Laude will be able to stop the flow of bad news for ATR, from slow sales to supply chain issues and, recently, termination of development of a new variant.

As Alaska’s integration with Hawaiian Airlines comes into full force, 2025 will be a pivotal year for Minicucci. The companies are working to secure a single operating certificate from the FAA, which would enable Alaska and Hawaiian to operate as a single carrier with an integrated passenger service system. Minicucci is no stranger to mergers. He handled the integration of Alaska and Virgin America from 2016 to 2018, which was arguably one of the smoother combinations in U.S. airline consolidation history. Will he be able to replicate his previous success?

Embraer has been weighing options for investment into its next aircraft development program. With Gomes Neto leading the effort, the company is considering new aircraft in defense and business aviation and a larger commercial jet that would compete with Boeing’s 737 MAX and Airbus’ A320neo family. A first decision could be made by the middle of the year.

Since Neuhauser stepped into his role at Abra Group—parent company of Avianca and GOL—the company has acquired Spanish wet-lease operator and charter specialist Wamos Air and tried to form a joint venture with Volotea to seize slots if they became available through International Airlines Group’s (IAG) acquisition of Air Europa. Although IAG ultimately abandoned its pursuit of the Spanish carrier, Abra’s moves show its growth ambitions. The next big milestone for Abra is GOL’s planned emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early 2025, which should unlock opportunities for increased cooperation between Avianca and GOL and could usher in more consolidation in Latin America.

Having survived a few torrid months since taking the helm at Boeing in August—including a crippling 53-day machinists strike that ended in November—Ortberg has his hands full as he implements an aggressive multipart plan to turn around the struggling company. The first target is ramping up production of 737s and 787s to generate much-needed cash flow, which he hopes to achieve by mid-year. Much will depend on progress in hitting quality improvement targets established with the FAA for the 737 line. In parallel, Ortberg is focused on obtaining long-delayed certification of the 737-7 and -10 and 777-9 through improvements in risk management as well as holding to schedule, cost and performance. Underpinning it all are broad-­ranging organizational streamlining and cost-reduction efforts, including divestment of noncore aircraft production businesses.

Shanahan was a board member of the company in October 2023 when he was appointed to executive leadership in a surprise transition with a mandate to fix the ailing aerostructures giant. Soon, his job became signing and executing on the planned sale of Spirit to its key OEM customers, Airbus and Boeing, to be completed in 2025. His career included decades rising at Boeing before he became deputy U.S. defense secretary in the first Trump administration, and Shanahan was widely discussed as a candidate to replace Dave Calhoun as Boeing CEO as that OEM started a turnaround of its own.

A key figure behind the company’s continuing success amid the turmoil of Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan durability shortfalls and in the post-COVID-19 recovery, Wagner is about to change course. In early 2026, he will take over as CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, succeeding Christian Scherer, who plans to retire that year. Before Wagner moves to Airbus, he needs to deliver on the PW1100 production ramp-up to deliver strong results in his final year at MTU.