Star Alliance has names Theo Panagiotoulias as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Panagiotoulias has over 25 years’ international airline and aviation industry experience. He joins Star Alliance from Hawaiian Airlines, where he has been SVP of Global Sales since 2014.
On Monday (June 5, 2023), Star Alliance announced the appointment of Theo Panagiotoulias as CEO. Mr. Panagiotoulias joins the Star Alliance from Hawaiian Airlines, where he has served as Senior Vice President of Global Sales since 2014. Prior to joining Hawaiian, he was VP and General Manager – Asia Pacific at the travel technology provider Sabre Corporation. He also spent 15 years with American Airlines, where he served in a range of commercial, operational and management roles. In the coming months, Mr. Panagiotoulias will succeed SAS’ Charlotta Wieland, who has served as interim CEO Since January 2023. Once the transition is complete, she will return to SAS and rejoin Star Alliance’s Management Board as representative for SAS.
In Monday’s announcement, United Airlines’ CEO and Chairman of the Star Alliance Executive Board, Scott Kirby, said,
“On behalf of the board of Star Alliance, I would like to congratulate Theo for being named the next CEO of Star Alliance. Theo’s international commercial and airline experience have given him a good understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our industry today. I believe he is the right person to lead Star Alliance into the future. On behalf of Star Alliance and its member carriers, I would like to thank Charlotta for her service to Star Alliance as interim CEO, and welcome her back to her seat on the Alliance Management Board.”
Also commenting on his new role as CEO of Star Alliance, Theo Panagiotoulias, said,
“Star Alliance connects the world. More than 200 million customers fly with its 26 member airlines each year, on more than 16,000 flights each day. The Alliance has also led the revolution to promote a more seamless passenger experience. I am honoured that I’ve been chosen to lead the Star Alliance team and work directly with our 26 member carriers, as we continue to innovate as the world’s leading airline alliance.”
Mr. Panagiotoulias is a graduate of Haileybury College in Melbourne, Australia and completed the Advanced Leadership Programme at the University of Cambridge in the UK.
Founded in 1997, the Star Alliance network is comprised of 26 member airlines including AEGEAN Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines and United. The Star Alliance network currently offers over 10,000 daily flights to nearly 1,200 airports in 184 countries. Additional destinations are available via Star Alliance Connecting Partners Juneyao Airlines and THAI Smile Airways.
Source: Star Alliance