Hugh Flynn to retire – New CEO appointed
Hugh Flynn 
Dave Andrew
ASL Aviation Holdings chief executive Hugh Flynn is to retire after 22 years leading the Dublin-based group which has a fleet of 130 aircraft, ranging from the Boeing 747 freighter to the ATR 72 turboprop.
Flynn will retire on July 13 and the ASL Board has announced that ASL senior executive Dave Andrew has been appointed as the new chief executive.
Flynn will continue to serve as a non-executive Director of ASL Aviation Holdings. He will also become non-executive chairman of each of ASL’s subsidiary airlines in Ireland, Belgium, France and Hungary.
Andrew is currently ASL’s chief executive Africa and Asia as well as CEO Leasing, where he holds overall responsibility for the group’s fleet and leasing operations.
ASL Aviation Holdings chairman, Charles Graham, said: “today’s announcements offer continuity for ASL’s customers and opportunity for the Group led by Dave with support from Hugh and the current ASL executive team.”
Graham paid tribute to Hugh saying he had “provided superb leadership in over 35 years in Group companies and 22 years as chief executive of ASL”.
“ASL has made a profit every year since its inception, irrespective of the prevailing global economic situations.
“The Group fleet has grown to more than 130 aircraft and now operates on 6 continents, a testimony to Hugh’s strategic performance and unwavering commitment to ASL’s customers.”
The ASL chairman welcomed Dave Andrew to his new role, saying that “sound succession planning meant that we had a very experienced and talented ASL Group executive ready and able to step into the CEO role”.
Graham continued: “Dave’s association with ASL goes back 30 years to when he joined Safair. He ran the airline’s passenger and cargo services including their commercial Hercules humanitarian operations, and then as chief executive of that airline he led the launch and became the first CEO of the highly successful low-cost carrier, FlySafair.”
Flynn is a commercial pilot and said he “plans to enjoy a bit of flying and spend more time with friends and family.”
Dave Andrew said: “We have tough challenges ahead in these difficult times, but I step into the CEO role confident in the commitment and ability of the ASL team.”
The Boeing 737 forms the backbone of the ASL fleet, with passenger and freighter versions operating in Europe, Africa and Asia.
In 2019 ASL added the first Boeing 737-800NG aircraft to both passenger and freight fleets, and at Paris Air Show, announced an order from Boeing for 10 Boeing 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters and purchase rights for a further 10.
During the global coronavirus pandemic ASL’s three Boeing 747’s have so far transported more than 1.5bn pieces of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) between China, Europe and the US.
