Remco Althuis is Air Seychelles’ interim chief executive |20 December 2017
Remco Althuis has been named Air Seychelles’ interim chief executive, succeeding Roy Kinnear.
A communiqué from Air Seychelles writes that Mr Althuis joins the national carrier from Etihad Airways, where he held the position of regional general manager Europe, with responsibility for the airline’s commercial activities in 17 European markets.
Speaking in the National Assembly late yesterday, Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine Minister Maurice Loustau-Lalanne said Mr Althuis, 48, will head Air Seychelles for a maximum six months until a new chief executive is chosen by Etihad Airways among 10 candidates.
Meanwhile, Minister Loustau-Lalanne has said they await the final results of the Etihad Airways Group board meeting held in Abu Dhabi on December 10, 2017 during which Air Seychelles put forward a number of propositions, but confirmed that the national airline will become a regional airline in the future.
The minister also confirmed that in March or April next year, there will be a restructuring process within Air Seychelles, meaning some of the 850 staff will be made redundant, but all will depend on discussions the company is having with Fiji Airways to rent one of its A330 Boeings.
Minister Loustau-Lalanne explained that although Air Seychelles holds a 60% share in the deal with Etihad Airways which holds a 40% share, it is the Abu Dhabi-based airline that manages Air Seychelles and decides who should be Air Seychelles’ chief executive.
He also confirmed that no Seychellois has applied for post of chief executive before adding that Mr Kinnear is currently in Abu Dhabi finalising some details before he leaves Air Seychelles on December 31, 2017.
Back to the Air Seychelles communiqué, it adds that Mr Althuis has also held senior management positions at Air France-KLM and KLM during an aviation career spanning more than 20 years.
Mr Althuis said: “I am honoured and delighted to join Air Seychelles, and with the support of the shareholders, look forward to driving the strategic development of the business. Like all airlines in the commercial aviation industry, we continue to face significant challenges. However, I am confident that together with the Air Seychelles workforce, we’ll continue to enhance the business and spread the Creole spirit.”
He started his career at KLM where he worked across various functions including sales and distribution, revenue management, marketing and e-commerce.
Mr Althuis joined Etihad Airways in 2012 as general manager for China, overseeing the expansion of the airline’s route network in the region and driving revenue growth in Greater China, before moving up to the regional general manager Europe position.
He holds an MBA from the Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University in the Netherlands.
Board members of both stakeholders, the government of Seychelles and Etihad Airways, have welcomed Mr Althuis’ appointment.
Jean Weeling-Lee, chairman of Air Seychelles, said: “Remco is a highly talented executive with a wealth of experience in aviation and a proven track record in leadership roles. His extensive skillset will be crucial to ensuring that Air Seychelles continues to develop in ways that achieve our commercial objective of sustainable profitability.
“I would also like to extend our thanks and appreciation to Roy Kinnear, who has made an enormous contribution in developing the business. We wish him all the best in the next stage of his career.”