Air NZ boss CEO of the year

Bob Fyfe. Photo / NZ Herald

Air New Zealand's chief executive Rob Fyfe was named chief executive of the year at the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) awards in Singapore last night.

Emirates was named airline of the year.

The awards were part of this year's seventh annual Asia Aviation Outlook summit.

"Our executive of the year has been a tireless advocate for innovation and customer orientation - two hallmarks of Air New Zealand's recent success.

"For a small airline at the end of extremely long thin routes, the carrier has performed remarkably in the past two difficult years," CAPA executive chairman Peter Harbison said.

Extraordinary marketing initiatives and remarkable products such as the new long haul economy seating were testimony to Mr Fyfe's willingness to "have a go", he said.

"It is hard to conceive of another airline chief executive who would have been prepared to bare all, as he did, in last year's promotion to illustrate Air New Zealand's no-hidden-costs.

"And, with a similarly creative network strategy, the airline is well positioned to benefit from the upswing in mainland and SAR aviation markets and the vast opportunities presented in North Asia and beyond in the coming years."

- NZPA