Aussie husband and wife for Origin

Origin Pacific Airways has appointed an Australian husband and wife team as new chief executive and general manager of passenger services.

Dallas and Susan Hay are moving to Nelson after spending the last seven years at South Australia's O'Connor Airlines.

Dallas Hay, 52, was general manager and Susan Hay, 48, was sales and marketing manager at the Mt Gambier-based airline, halfway between Adelaide and Melbourne.

They start their new roles at Origin on May 9.

Dallas Hay, who has a pilot's licence and 32 years of aviation industry experience, said he was looking forward to working at an airline that was six times bigger than the South Australian operation.

Susan Hay will manage customer and passenger services and the Origin call centre.

Origin founder and chairman Robert Inglis said he would now concentrate on the chairman's governance role, rather than the day-to-day duties of chief executive.

He said Origin had made huge progress in a difficult period since laying off staff and downsizing the operation after a marketing deal with Qantas fell through last year.

- NZPA