GURUGRAM:
SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director, Ajay Singh, has been awarded the ‘Asia Pacific Airline Executive of the Year’ at CAPA’s 16th annual ‘Asia Pacific Aviation Awards for Excellence’ in Singapore. Singh was presented with this prestigious award for his “significant and innovative contributions to Indian aviation” at a glittery ceremony attended by over 150 of the region’s aviation luminaries.
The ‘Airline Executive of the Year’ is awarded by CAPA to the “airline executive who has had the greatest individual influence on the aviation industry, demonstrating outstanding strategic thinking and innovative direction for the growth of their business and the industry”.
Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet, said, “I am truly honoured to receive this prestigious award, which is a recognition of SpiceJet’s spectacular comeback and remarkable performance. Leading SpiceJet from a near shutdown to being one of finest airlines in India has been the best experience of my life. This award belongs to every SpiceJetter who has worked relentlessly to resurrecting a dying company and building a globally admired airline that the world today speaks of with admiration and awe.”
CAPA Chairman, Emeritus Peter Harbison said: “Ajay Singh has been one of the most effective pioneers of India’s low cost airline segment since the establishment of SpiceJet 15 years ago. Since Singh’s resumption of management and majority control in 2015, SpiceJet has achieved a strong turnaround from a near financial collapse. Under Singh’s leadership, SpiceJet has adapted the business model to take initiatives not always associated with LCCs, for example operating a turboprop fleet alongside its Boeing737s, launching a cargo subsidiary, joining IATA and signing a MoU with Emirates over future codeshares.”
“The CAPA Asia Pacific Awards for Excellence are intended to recognise airlines, airports, executives and the wider aviation industry for their strategic leadership and success over the last 12 months, and for helping to propel the whole industry forward.”
Regarded as the pre-eminent awards for strategic excellence in aviation, CAPA first established the awards in 2003, to recognise successful airlines and airports within the Asia Pacific region.
