Air South West has a new chief executive, Jim Cameron, who takes over at the airline”s Plymouth headquarters from the incumbent, Malcolm Naylor, next Monday 16 April.
The news was announced to the London Stock Exchange last week and Air South West is 100% owned by Sutton Harbour, whose shares are listed on the AIM market. The airline was founded in 2003 after British Airways (BA) withdrew its Cornwall and Devon regional operation. Air South West currently operates five 50-seat Bombardier Q300 aircraft.
Cameron, 60, joins from Loganair where he has held a similar position since 2001. He is no stranger to Plymouth; in the late 1990s he was sales manager of Brymon Airways, the high profile predecessor of Air South West and the first carrier to operate into London City Airport.
During a 30-year career with BA, appointments included a spell in the New York office, at Manchester and in the BA headquarters with responsibility for the airline”s extensive franchise operations.
Discussing his new position Mr Cameron said: "Air South West got off to a brilliant start straight from day one, in terms of customer appreciation, financial and service performance. They have a great team and I'm relishing the challenge of developing this growing business still further.
”Our fleet of Bombardier Dash 8s is ideally suited to serve regional routes, thanks to their efficiency and low operating costs. I can see us continuing to develop niche markets where we have the right aircraft to develop further popular and profitable services."
BA recently made its return to Cornwall with a daily service from Gatwick to Newquay competing with a similar, but four-times daily, Air South West operation which also takes in Plymouth. With the announcement, Air South West intimated the ending of its handling contract with BA at Gatwick. However the threat has now been withdrawn and the airline continues to operate from the North Terminal.
Please see also: ABTN 18 February 2007
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