The Aviation Club UK’s Annual Reception will take place on Wednesday 11 July 2018 from 7:00 – 9:00pm.  Our venue is the Terrace Pavilion in the House of Commons, Westminster where we will be joined by special guest speaker Richard Noble OBE.

Richard is a Scottish entrepreneur best known for his desire for speed, leading the Thrust2 programme which bought the World Land Speed Record back to Britain in 1983 and subsequently the ThrustSSC project: a supersonic vehicle and current holder of the Outright World Land Speed Record.  His other projects include the ARV Super2 light aircraft, the Atlantic Sprinter Blue Riband contendor and Farnborough Aircraft, which is creating the first point to point taxi aircraft.

As with all Club events, Members are welcome to bring guests.  Early booking is advisable as tickets are limited and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

The evening is supported by MAPLES, Chorus Aviation Capital and PA Consulting

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The newly appointed Chairman of The Aviation Club of the UK Karl Brünjes, told members and guests at the iconic Institute of Directors, ‘We are the UK’s Aviation Club yet with an international reputation and membership, and one we seek to expand..” 

His statement came before lunch where he briefly outlined the opportunities and challenges for the Club going forward and also paid tribute to outgoing Chairman Jane Johnston, saying she had dealt with a ‘boatload of challenges in a difficult environment’. 

flybe CEO Christine Ourmières-Widener was the speaker at the lunch and immediately flagged she would talk about gender and Brexit as well as outlining the current strategies for the UK’s regional carrier.  

She dismissed reported comments from Qatar Airline’s CEO Akbar Al Baker made at the recent IATA meeting in Sydney that ‘a woman couldn’t run an airline’ and said she had been asked many times how she got the job.  “Would the same question be asked of a man?” she added.  

Ms Ourmières-Widener, who amongst other senior appointments was a former head of Air France/KLM in the USA and CEO of Cityjet, went on to say she wanted to create a culture where women could do well because they are the best for the job stating “we have a need for change.”  On Brexit, said there was a sense of Brexit “fatigue” and that it was time to simply get on with it!

Impossible is only an opinion.  That was one of many takeaway moments from yesterday’s speaker at the UK Aviation Club.

For those of us who were there to hear Skuli Mogensen’s story of WOW! – WOW did we have a treat!   For those of you who weren’t there – you should have been.  You missed a really special event. 

Skuli spoke without notes about he set up WOW!  How they arrived at the name, and what having a name like that means for the decisions that need to follow, and the expectations it sets.  He talked about how one day he can realistically see airlines paying customers to travel with them, because of the value their data unlocks in providing ancillary services. 

He talked about WOW!’s future plans – and provided plenty of headlines for the media guests present. 

He will most certainly go down as one of the most inspirational speakers we’ve ever had – and I was really lucky that it happened at my last lunch as Chairman so I got to host him at lunch, where the Top Table had a really animated cross-table conversation that everyone enjoyed. 

Thank you for the opportunity to chair the Club which has been an unforgettable experience.  Karl Brunjes now takes over and will be a brilliant Chairman.  He has a great Committee – and yesterday we had three very key and capable members re-elected in Donna Ager, Vicky Hartley and Jeremy Green, as well as winning Tony Whitty back after a year away.  Two new Committee members – Arnaud Fiscel and James McCarthy – complete a really strong line-up and it’s great to have the Club in such good hands.

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On Tuesday 27 March the Aviation Club was joined by Alan Joyce, Group CEO of Qantas, and team.  Marking the launch of the new non-stop Perth/London route.  Joyce spoke to a full house about this ground breaking move by Qantas and future plans, which include ‘Project Sunrise’.

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Malcolm Ginsberg reports for Business Travel News:  Dimitrios Gerogiannis, the engaging CEO of Greek airline Aegean was the speaker at London’s Aviation Club last week.  The MBA (Master of Business Administration) from the London Business School introduced himself by saying he preferred a dialog to a monolog which he would keep short in describing the airline, and then take questions ….

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Dimitris Gerogiannis, CEO of Aegean Airlines, pictured here with Aviation Club UK Chairman Jane Johnston, spoke at the Aviation Club lunch in London on 7 February 2018.  Addressing Club members and guests, Gerogiannis explained Aegean’s future growth strategy, focus on high customer service levels and confirmed that a fleet renewal tender will be announced within a month….

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The Aviation Club UK kicks off its new year event programme with a fascinating aviation success story at its first lunch on Wednesday 7 February 2018 at London’s Institute of Directors.

The first speaker in a great line up is Aegean Airlines’ CEO Dimitrios Gerogiannis whose airline has fought against all the odds to deliver a successful airline which is today the envy of the industry.

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For full list of 2018 events dates see EVENT section at www.aviationclub.org.uk