Air Europa has appointed Richard Clark as its new chief executive officer, a move it said will “reinforce its commitment” to international growth.
Clark, who joined the Spanish carrier in 1987 and most recently served as managing director, will succeed Jesus Nuno de la Rosa, who agreed to step down earlier this month after taking the top job in 2022.
“Taking on this position is, for me, much more than a responsibility: it is an honour and an opportunity to continue building the future of Air Europa,” Clark said in a statement.
“I approach this challenge with the same enthusiasm as on my first day, convinced that, with the effort and talent of our entire workforce, we will succeed in ensuring that Air Europa continues to grow and establish itself as a leading international airline,” he added.
Clark’s appointment follows Turkish Airlines' €300 million acquisition of a 25–27 per cent stake in Air Europa, which was finalised earlier this month and is pending regulatory approval.
Clark added: “[The objective] is to strengthen Madrid as a hub linking continents and to move forward hand in hand with our strategic partners to offer our customers a unique, sustainable and high-quality experience. This is a shared project, and I am confident that, together, we will reach new milestones.”
In a separate update, Air Europa has also signed an agreement with Airbus to purchase up to 40 A350-900 aircraft, which the carrier said will "form the backbone" of its long-haul fleet renewal plans.