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Nick Calio, who has led the Airlines for America (A4A) association for 14 years and seen its airline members through multiple U.S. government administration transitions and the industry through the pandemic, will retire at the end of 2025.
Calio, a highly regarded Washington lobbyist and skilled political negotiator, joined Washington, D.C.-based A4A as president and CEO in 2011. He oversaw a rebranding of the organization to A4A and significantly raised its focus on being an influential voice in shaping legislative and regulatory policies and priorities that affect passenger and cargo airlines.
He has built a reputation for working collaboratively with airlines, labor unions, the U.S. Congress, the executive branch and key government agencies as well as foreign governments to promote airline industry safety, security and financial health.
Through his tenure, Calio has worked closely with the current A4A board chair and United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby as well as past A4A chairs Robin Hayes, Gary Kelly, Brad Tilden and Doug Parker.
Calio has led multiple FAA reauthorization negotiations and was instrumental in avoiding a crisis during the 2022 5G C-band implementation. During the pandemic, he worked with Congress, labor organizations and other groups to create the U.S. government Payroll Support Program and secure $60 billion as part of the CARES Act that kept airline staff employed.
“Our board members were unified, and laser focused on saving countless jobs, their companies and the U.S. airline industry,” Calio said.
Calio has also advocated for addressing the U.S. air traffic controller shortage and for fully funding FAA’s facilities and equipment budget.
“It is my honor and privilege to work with incredibly talented professionals, who are also wonderful people and loyal friends. That said, I am starting my 15th year at A4A and the time to transition out has come. I am looking forward to new adventures,” Calio said.
Kirby and board vice chair and American Airlines CEO Robert Isom will direct the search for Calio’s successor, to begin immediately.
Kirby commended Calio’s work, saying: “Nick has been a leading voice for the airline industry and aviation in general during a time of both challenge and opportunity. He has been a strong advocate for our businesses, our employees and our customers in the halls of Congress, in the administration and overseas.”
Former JetBlue CEO and now Airbus North America CEO Hayes said, “Nick personally turned A4A into the premier and most influential trade association in Washington, D.C. His deep, meaningful relationships with people he has known for years, coupled with his deep knowledge and his ability to get things done, are exemplary.”
Former American Airlines CEO Parker added, “Under his leadership, we became a much stronger, more cohesive industry, and we became a stronger voice and a much more respected organization in D.C. That was especially apparent during the COVID pandemic when he led our effort to save hundreds of thousands of jobs, saved our industry and saved much of U.S. commerce during that time.”
Former Southwest Airlines CEO Kelly said, “His greatest talent and most valuable contribution may have been his ability to manage the various opinions, competing interests and a few egos along the way. His work with Harvard’s National Preparedness Leadership Initiative regarding air quality safety in the cabin was absolutely superb and was instrumental in providing confidence in air travel at a critical time and critical to restarting air travel after the pandemic.”
Before joining A4A, Calio was Citigroup’s EVP for global government affairs. He served President George W. Bush as assistant for legislative affairs from January 2001 to January 2003.
He will receive the Bryce Harlow Foundation’s Business-Government Relations Award on April 30.