British Airways announces new CEO
{{date|March 8, 2005}}

[[Image:Ethnic.ba.b737.ndebele.arp.jpg|right|200px|British Airways has named Willie Walsh as new CEO]]
The British national airline, [[British Airways]] has announced that the former CEO of [[Aer Lingus]], {{w|Willie Walsh}} is to be their new CEO. Mr Walsh is to replace the current CEO, Australian-born {{w|Rod Eddington}} in September after his retirement.

Willie Walsh started as a cadet for Aer Lingus at the age of 17, later becoming a captain of the airline. In 1998, he became the chief-executive of the airline's charter subsidiary Furtura, and later in 2000 chief finance officer. In the wake of 11th September 2001, he became the chief-executive of Aer Lingus, itself. Worried about what happened to {{w|Swissair}} and {{w|Sabena}}, he looked at the rival Irish airline [[Ryanair]] for inspiration and made Aer Lingus in effect a {{w|Low-cost carrier|no-frills airline}}, such as replacing the infamous turquoise uniforms with polo shirts and promoting via the Internet.

== See also ==

*{{wikinews|title=British Airways CEO set to step down in the summer|date=March 7, 2005}}

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.britishairways.com/cgi-bin/press/view_article.pl?year=2005&month=03&day=08&index=0&reference=18/IB/05&title=Willie%20Walsh%20to%20be%20appointed%20chief%20executive&mail=contact&image=none&position=none&caption= |title=Willie Walsh to be appointed chief executive |author= |pub=British Airways |date=March 8, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.aerlingus.com/cgi-bin/obel01im1/Corporate/display_news.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0899976386.1110314900@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccchaddedfjemllcefecfigdffgdfkh.0&P_OID=-8049&Category=0&NEWS_OID=536884394 |title=Willie Walsh is appointed as Chief Executive designate at British Airways |author= |pub=Aer Lingus |date=March 8, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4329219.stm |title=Aer Lingus ex-chief to head up BA |author= |pub=BBC News |date=March 8, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0308/aerlingus.html |title=Walsh named as new British Airways boss  |author= |pub=RTÉ News|date=March 8, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Britain-British-Airways.html |title=Ex - Aer Lingus Head to Helm British Airways |author=[[Associated Press]] |pub=New York Times |date=March 8, 2005}} (registration required)

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[[Category:Economy and business]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Ireland]]
[[Category:Published]]
[[Category:Transport]]
[[Category:Aviation]]
[[Category:British Airways]]
[[Category:Aer Lingus]]
British Airways has named Willie Walsh as new CEO
The British national airline, British Airways has announced that the former CEO of Aer Lingus, Rod Eddington in September after his retirement.

Willie Walsh started as a cadet for Aer Lingus at the age of 17, later becoming a captain of the airline. In 1998, he became the chief-executive of the airline's charter subsidiary Furtura, and later in 2000 chief finance officer. In the wake of 11th September 2001, he became the chief-executive of Aer Lingus, itself. Worried about what happened to Sabena, he looked at the rival Irish airline Ryanair for inspiration and made Aer Lingus in effect a no-frills airline, such as replacing the infamous turquoise uniforms with polo shirts and promoting via the Internet.
Economy and business United Kingdom Ireland Published Transport Aviation British Airways Aer Lingus