Gallery: 50th Annual ATW Air Transport Achievement Awards Gala — Award Winners
Karen Walker June 02, 2024
From left: ATW Publisher Iain Blackhall; ATW Editor-in-Chief Karen Walker; Emirates President Sir Tim Clark; Korean Air CEO and Chairman Walter Cho; United Airlines Global Community managers Aaron Stash and Kristin Lewis; Airlink CEO Steve Smith; James Hogan, Knighthood Global; Scoot CEO Leslie Thng; Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian; Doug Parker; Jonathon Counsell, IAG Group head of sustainability; Azul CEO John Rodgerson; Molly Wilkinson, vice president of regulatory affairs, American Airlines; Air Serbia CEO Jiri Malek; Delta Air Lines President Glen Hauenstein; Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau.
ATW Publisher Iain Blackhall delivered opening remarks, looking back at the past 50 years of both ATW and the evolution of the airline industry.
ATW Editor-in-Chief Karen Walker unveiled the ATW Hall of Fame, inducting nine airlines and industry leaders.
HALL OF FAME — EMIRATES AIRLINE
ATW Publisher Iain Blackhall and Emirates President Sir Tim Clark.
HALL OF FAME — KOREAN AIR
Routes Editor-in-Chief David Casey and Korean Air Chairman and CEO Walter Cho.
HALL OF FAME — JAMES HOGAN
Knighthood Global founder and Chairman James Hogan shaking hands with Emirates' Sir Tim Clark.
HALL OF FAME — AMERICAN AIRLINES
Routes Editor-in-Chief David Casey greeting American Airlines Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Molly Wilkinson.
Air Serbia CEO Jiri Marek and ATW publisher Iain Blackhall.
HALL OF FAME — AIRLINK
ATW Publisher Iain Blackhall and Airlink CEO Steve Smith.
HALL OF FAME — AIR CANADA
Routes Editor-in-Chief David Casey and Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau.
HALL OF FAME — DELTA AIR LINES
ATW Publisher Iain Blackhall and Delta Air Lines President Glen Hauenstein.
ATW Editor-in-Chief Karen Walker (pictured far left) with the first-ever ATW Hall of Fame inductees. From left: Emirates President Sir Tim Clark; Korean Air CEO and Chairman Walter Cho; James Hogan, chairman, Knightwood Global; Air Serbia CEO Jiri Marek; Molly Wilkinson, vice president of regulatory affairs, American Airlines; Airlink CEO Steve Smith; Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau; Delta Air Lines President Glen Hauenstein; ATW Publisher Iain Blackhall.
HALL OF FAME — PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis was unable to attend the gala, but ATW’s Karen Walker still managed to bestow her Hall of Fame honor during the opening day of the IATA AGM. In her role, Cassotis oversees Pittsburgh International Airport.
Following the surprise announcement of the inaugural ATW Hall of Fame inductees, Editor-in-Chief Karen Walker handed out this year's ATW Air Transport Achievement Awards.
HUMANITARIAN FORCE FOR GOOD AWARD — UNITED AIRLINES
“Now more than ever when disaster strikes, airlines have a unique role to play in helping our communities get back on their feet. It is our privilege to support this important work to get volunteers and critical supplies and medicine where they’re needed most, as well as transport people and animals out of danger. Thank you for truly recognizing that good does lead the way.”—Aaron Stash, global community engagement manager, United Airlines, accepting the award alongside Kristin Lewis, global community engagement manager, United Airlines.
Airlink CEO Steve Smith, in introducing the award, said: “Airlink is a humanitarian organization where airlines can come together to support humanitarian relief all around the world. We’re in unprecedented times. With 73% of all costs for humanitarian programs going to some portion of the supply chain—and transportation is a massive part of that—the resources [the airline industry] has command over could do a tremendous amount to make a really big impact there. This is such a tremendous bright spot for all of us and I really hope we continue to promote the good things airlines are doing around the world to support humanitarian relief.”
Pictured from left: Airlink CEO Steven Smith, Kristin Lewis, Aaron Stash, Aviation Week Editor-in-Chief Joe Anselmo.
CARGO OPERATOR AWARD — AIR CANADA
“I’m very pleased to accept this on behalf of the 40,000 employees at Air Canada. This is really their award. This award speaks to the success of our strategy to build a cargo division.”—Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau.
AIRLINE MARKET LEADER AWARD – AZUL
“We’ve built something pretty special in Brazil. We fly to 100 destinations no one else flies to. We serve 54 destinations in the Amazon Basin. The whole world is looking to save the Amazon, but first you need to connect the Amazon and that’s something Azul does that no one else does.”—Azul CEO John Rodgerson.
ECO-AIRLINE OF THE YEAR AWARD – IAG GROUP
“At IAG, we consider that climate change is one of, if not the most critical issue facing our industry. We recognize that sustainability is an industry-wide challenge, and we will only solve it by collaborating together. We definitely see sustainability as a team sport ... Together we can drive net-zero emissions for aviation.”—IAG Group Head of Sustainability Jonathon Counsell.
VALUE AIRLINE OF THE YEAR – SCOOT
“This award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of all our Scoot colleagues. This award will inspire us to continue to innovate, seek new opportunities, and push boundaries in our next phase of growth. And more importantly, to continue to invest in our people, our greatest asset as we work to further enhance our position as Asia’s leading LCC.”—Scoot CEO Leslie Thng.
EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP AWARD – GOH CHOON PHONG
“The past two weeks have been an immensely challenging period for us, after the accident that tragically resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries. For your support and encouragement during this time, our heartfelt appreciation, and thanks to our customers for their support, patience, and understanding. This award is a tribute to the collective spirit and dedication of everyone in the Singapore Airlines Group.”—Leslie Thng, CEO of Scoot and newly appointed executive vice president of Singapore Airlines, accepting the Excellence in Leadership Award on behalf of Goh Choon Phong.
Pictured: ATW Editor-in-Chief Karen Walker; Leslie Thng; ATW Southeast Asia and China Editor Chen Chuanren.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – DOUG PARKER
“I want to thank my wife [Gwen], who is not just my partner in this, but a leader in it all. She helps me understand the value of what all the people at American Airlines and the entire industry do—hardworking people that are out there every day, taking care of our customers—and made sure that I didn’t just understand that, but that I made it my driving force to ensure that they were taken care of because they were in our care. And to me that’s what it’s about. We have enormous responsibility to take care of those who are out there doing the work every day, and to make sure that they know as long as they do that job well, they don’t have to worry about whether or not they’re going to have careers.”—Doug Parker, former CEO of American Airlines.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – DOUG PARKER
In a lighthearted moment, Karen Walker (left) referenced how Doug Parker's youthfulness and reputation as "an all around nice guy" made her think of him as the "Ryan Gosling of the aviation industry," to which Parker quipped when thanking Walker for her "amazing job of telling stories of this industry that we all love," "I was going to say that before the Ryan Gosling thing, but that was even nicer."
AIRLINE OF THE YEAR – DELTA AIR LINES
“On behalf of the 100,000 women and men of Delta Air Lines, we are proud and humbled to accept this great achievement. These are the people who make it happen. We have a lot of partners in the room tonight. Thank you for being here. You will make us better and you will keep our ecosystem growing strong. But it’s not the great planes we have, or the technology we deploy, or the airports that make us great—it’s our people. They’re the reason we’re number one, and they’re the heart and soul and passion behind our service.”—Delta CEO Ed Bastian.
AIRLINE OF THE YEAR – DELTA AIR LINES
Delta CEO Ed Bastian accepted the award alongside a group of Delta frontline workers.
From left: ATW Publisher Iain Blackhall; ATW Editor-in-Chief Karen Walker; Emirates President Sir Tim Clark; Korean Air CEO and Chairman Walter Cho; United Airlines Global Community managers Aaron Stash and Kristin Lewis; Airlink CEO Steve Smith; James Hogan, Knighthood Global; Scoot CEO Leslie Thng; Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian; Doug Parker; Jonathon Counsell, IAG Group head of sustainability; Azul CEO John Rodgerson; Molly Wilkinson, vice president of regulatory affairs, American Airlines; Air Serbia CEO Jiri Malek; Delta Air Lines President Glen Hauenstein; Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau.
ATW Publisher Iain Blackhall delivered opening remarks, looking back at the past 50 years of both ATW and the evolution of the airline industry.
ATW Editor-in-Chief Karen Walker unveiled the ATW Hall of Fame, inducting nine airlines and industry leaders.
HALL OF FAME — EMIRATES AIRLINE
ATW Publisher Iain Blackhall and Emirates President Sir Tim Clark.
HALL OF FAME — KOREAN AIR
Routes Editor-in-Chief David Casey and Korean Air Chairman and CEO Walter Cho.
HALL OF FAME — JAMES HOGAN
Knighthood Global founder and Chairman James Hogan shaking hands with Emirates' Sir Tim Clark.
HALL OF FAME — AMERICAN AIRLINES
Routes Editor-in-Chief David Casey greeting American Airlines Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Molly Wilkinson.
Air Serbia CEO Jiri Marek and ATW publisher Iain Blackhall.
HALL OF FAME — AIRLINK
ATW Publisher Iain Blackhall and Airlink CEO Steve Smith.
HALL OF FAME — AIR CANADA
Routes Editor-in-Chief David Casey and Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau.
HALL OF FAME — DELTA AIR LINES
ATW Publisher Iain Blackhall and Delta Air Lines President Glen Hauenstein.
ATW Editor-in-Chief Karen Walker (pictured far left) with the first-ever ATW Hall of Fame inductees. From left: Emirates President Sir Tim Clark; Korean Air CEO and Chairman Walter Cho; James Hogan, chairman, Knightwood Global; Air Serbia CEO Jiri Marek; Molly Wilkinson, vice president of regulatory affairs, American Airlines; Airlink CEO Steve Smith; Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau; Delta Air Lines President Glen Hauenstein; ATW Publisher Iain Blackhall.
HALL OF FAME — PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis was unable to attend the gala, but ATW’s Karen Walker still managed to bestow her Hall of Fame honor during the opening day of the IATA AGM. In her role, Cassotis oversees Pittsburgh International Airport.
Following the surprise announcement of the inaugural ATW Hall of Fame inductees, Editor-in-Chief Karen Walker handed out this year's ATW Air Transport Achievement Awards.
HUMANITARIAN FORCE FOR GOOD AWARD — UNITED AIRLINES
“Now more than ever when disaster strikes, airlines have a unique role to play in helping our communities get back on their feet. It is our privilege to support this important work to get volunteers and critical supplies and medicine where they’re needed most, as well as transport people and animals out of danger. Thank you for truly recognizing that good does lead the way.”—Aaron Stash, global community engagement manager, United Airlines, accepting the award alongside Kristin Lewis, global community engagement manager, United Airlines.
Airlink CEO Steve Smith, in introducing the award, said: “Airlink is a humanitarian organization where airlines can come together to support humanitarian relief all around the world. We’re in unprecedented times. With 73% of all costs for humanitarian programs going to some portion of the supply chain—and transportation is a massive part of that—the resources [the airline industry] has command over could do a tremendous amount to make a really big impact there. This is such a tremendous bright spot for all of us and I really hope we continue to promote the good things airlines are doing around the world to support humanitarian relief.”
Pictured from left: Airlink CEO Steven Smith, Kristin Lewis, Aaron Stash, Aviation Week Editor-in-Chief Joe Anselmo.
CARGO OPERATOR AWARD — AIR CANADA
“I’m very pleased to accept this on behalf of the 40,000 employees at Air Canada. This is really their award. This award speaks to the success of our strategy to build a cargo division.”—Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau.
AIRLINE MARKET LEADER AWARD – AZUL
“We’ve built something pretty special in Brazil. We fly to 100 destinations no one else flies to. We serve 54 destinations in the Amazon Basin. The whole world is looking to save the Amazon, but first you need to connect the Amazon and that’s something Azul does that no one else does.”—Azul CEO John Rodgerson.
ECO-AIRLINE OF THE YEAR AWARD – IAG GROUP
“At IAG, we consider that climate change is one of, if not the most critical issue facing our industry. We recognize that sustainability is an industry-wide challenge, and we will only solve it by collaborating together. We definitely see sustainability as a team sport ... Together we can drive net-zero emissions for aviation.”—IAG Group Head of Sustainability Jonathon Counsell.
VALUE AIRLINE OF THE YEAR – SCOOT
“This award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of all our Scoot colleagues. This award will inspire us to continue to innovate, seek new opportunities, and push boundaries in our next phase of growth. And more importantly, to continue to invest in our people, our greatest asset as we work to further enhance our position as Asia’s leading LCC.”—Scoot CEO Leslie Thng.
EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP AWARD – GOH CHOON PHONG
“The past two weeks have been an immensely challenging period for us, after the accident that tragically resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries. For your support and encouragement during this time, our heartfelt appreciation, and thanks to our customers for their support, patience, and understanding. This award is a tribute to the collective spirit and dedication of everyone in the Singapore Airlines Group.”—Leslie Thng, CEO of Scoot and newly appointed executive vice president of Singapore Airlines, accepting the Excellence in Leadership Award on behalf of Goh Choon Phong.
Pictured: ATW Editor-in-Chief Karen Walker; Leslie Thng; ATW Southeast Asia and China Editor Chen Chuanren.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – DOUG PARKER
“I want to thank my wife [Gwen], who is not just my partner in this, but a leader in it all. She helps me understand the value of what all the people at American Airlines and the entire industry do—hardworking people that are out there every day, taking care of our customers—and made sure that I didn’t just understand that, but that I made it my driving force to ensure that they were taken care of because they were in our care. And to me that’s what it’s about. We have enormous responsibility to take care of those who are out there doing the work every day, and to make sure that they know as long as they do that job well, they don’t have to worry about whether or not they’re going to have careers.”—Doug Parker, former CEO of American Airlines.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – DOUG PARKER
In a lighthearted moment, Karen Walker (left) referenced how Doug Parker's youthfulness and reputation as "an all around nice guy" made her think of him as the "Ryan Gosling of the aviation industry," to which Parker quipped when thanking Walker for her "amazing job of telling stories of this industry that we all love," "I was going to say that before the Ryan Gosling thing, but that was even nicer."
AIRLINE OF THE YEAR – DELTA AIR LINES
“On behalf of the 100,000 women and men of Delta Air Lines, we are proud and humbled to accept this great achievement. These are the people who make it happen. We have a lot of partners in the room tonight. Thank you for being here. You will make us better and you will keep our ecosystem growing strong. But it’s not the great planes we have, or the technology we deploy, or the airports that make us great—it’s our people. They’re the reason we’re number one, and they’re the heart and soul and passion behind our service.”—Delta CEO Ed Bastian.
AIRLINE OF THE YEAR – DELTA AIR LINES
Delta CEO Ed Bastian accepted the award alongside a group of Delta frontline workers.
From left: ATW Publisher Iain Blackhall; ATW Editor-in-Chief Karen Walker; Emirates President Sir Tim Clark; Korean Air CEO and Chairman Walter Cho; United Airlines Global Community managers Aaron Stash and Kristin Lewis; Airlink CEO Steve Smith; James Hogan, Knighthood Global; Scoot CEO Leslie Thng; Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian; Doug Parker; Jonathon Counsell, IAG Group head of sustainability; Azul CEO John Rodgerson; Molly Wilkinson, vice president of regulatory affairs, American Airlines; Air Serbia CEO Jiri Malek; Delta Air Lines President Glen Hauenstein; Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau.
The 50th ATW Air Transport Achievement Awards were handed out in Dubai on May 31, at a gala dinner held on the eve of the 80th IATA AGM. In addition to the main awards, ATW Editor-in-Chief Karen Walker announced and presented the inaugural ATW Hall of Fame inductees. The initial nine ATW Hall of Famers represent airlines, an airport and leaders who have been multiple ATW Award winners and have made significant contributions to the global air transport industry.
