Mike has spent his entire business life (46+ years) in air transport – 20+ years in British Airways and one of its predecessors British European Airways, followed by 26+ years as the head of the European Regions Airline Association. His experience in the industry extends across airlines with different business models and within different functions and departments and, especially, in dealing with regulators, politicians and the Boards of airlines.
He developed ERA from, in 1987, an indebted and ineffective organisation comprising 14 member airlines and 25 Associate member companies into a highly motivated and effective organisation that is financially healthy. Under Mike’s stewardship, ERA’s membership quadrupled and the organisation became, and is, respected by the European Commission, European Parliament and Europe’s air transport regulatory institutions, for its knowledge, and experience.
He led ERA’s policy development in areas covering operations, maintenance, infrastructure, environment, safety, security and air transport policy. He developed a culture relying upon a constructive and moderate approach in lobbying and, managing and reacting to the various issues that threaten the future well-being of its members. Mike also established and Chaired Europe’s Council for Environmentally Friendly Aviation
Mike joined the Flight Operations department of British European Airways in 1966 after which he moved to BEA’s Management Services Division undertaking projects in Engineering, Catering, Cargo and Commercial and Operations departments. Mike transferred to the new Regional Division of British Airways in 1974 where he was responsible for aircraft evaluation, fleet procurement and airport capacity planning. He was later responsible for BA’s network-wide User Charges before accepting an assignment as an executive consultant to BA’s then franchise partner (and ERA member) Birmingham Executive Airways.
Mike was educated at King Edward VI School, Chelmsford, and completed his studies at Chelsea College, London University. Mike has been a Board member of Flight Safety Foundation since 1997 He was FSF’s Vice Chair (international) for 3 years and a member of FSF’s Executive Committee for 9 years.
Honours and Awards
Fellow, Royal Society of Arts and Science
Fellow, Royal Aeronautical Society
Fellow, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
Lifetime Achievement Award – Regional Airline World 2002
Lifetime Award – Fellowship, Aviation Club, London 2012
Lifetime Achievement Award, Air Transport News (ATN), 2014
Contact
mike.a.ambrose@googlemail.com