Former JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes to Join Airbus

23.04.2024 - 06:24 / skift.com / Robin Hayes / Guillaume Faury / Airlines

Former JetBlue Airways CEO Robin Hayes is joining Airbus as the company’s lead for North America.

Hayes is best known for serving as JetBlue CEO for nine years. He also held senior roles at British Airways. 

As Airbus Americas chairman and CEO, he will lead the manufacturer’s commercial aircraft business in the region. He will also have responsibility for coordination among the company’s helicopters, space and defense businesses.

Hayes takes over from Jeff Knittel starting June 3 and will report to Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. Knittel, who has been CEO of Airbus’ North America unit for six years, said in a LinkedIn post on Monday that he plans to retire.

“After some time off, I am excited and energized to join Airbus and build on the incredible success in the region,” Hayes said in a statement. “I have known Jeff and the Airbus team for well over a decade and I believe they have done a terrific job leading Airbus in the Americas. It is an honor for me to take up this opportunity to be part of the Airbus team.”

Knittel will stay with Airbus through the leadership transition, he said in the LinkedIn post.

“Robin’s vast aviation experience, depth of knowledge and industry relationships make him the right choice at the right time to lead the organization into the future in line with the company’s global ambition. I look forward to watching the team reach new heights under Robin’s leadership,” Knittel said in a statement.

North America is a critical region for Airbus. As well as major airline customers, it is also home to more than 10,000 employees across 50 sites.

The Airbus A220 has its main final assembly line in Mirabel, near Montreal. The company also produces the best-selling A320 at a facility in Alabama.

Hayes will need little introduction to the Airbus portfolio. JetBlue operates more than 200 of Airbus’ A220 and A320 family jets.

Hayes announced in January he would step down from the top post at JetBlue for health reasons.

The former JetBlue CEO had big ambitions for the New York-based carrier. He wanted to transform the low-cost airline into one that could compete with the Big Four (American, Delta, United and Southwest).

His tenure saw mixed results as the airline launched the industry-disrupting Mint business class product and saw the roll-out of transatlantic routes to Europe. But under his leadership, the carrier also faced the loss of its merger with Spirit Airlines and the Northeast Alliance.

Hayes heavily championed the Spirit merger and Northeast Alliance as a means for JetBlue to achieve growth quickly to efficiently compete with the larger U.S. airlines. But a hawkish Department of Justice struck both down, citing anticompetitive concerns.

As well as navigating the airline through