CAPA's Aviation Awards for Excellence

Dr Cheong Choong Kong

Dr ('CK') Cheong Choong Kong accepted his last award as an airline executive on 8 July 2003. With 29 years in Singapore Airlines - and 19 at its helm - he retired from his SIA role on 30 June, 2003. 'CK' presided over perhaps the most remarkable growth of any airline, regardless of region. In terms of recent aviation 'greats' in the Asia Pacific region, there is only blue sky between him and other contenders. As with many greats, CK is unassuming and quietly self-deprecating, with a sharp - but usually gentle - sense of fun. He did not retire, but joined a leading Asian bank, where, as he noted with characteristic understatement and wry humour, "I have reason to believe that my banker's credentials, especially during these times, will endear me to a lot of old friends in the airlines and the travel business."

Ray Webster

CEO for ten years of a company that has changed the way people think about travel, Ray Webster, has built an airline that carries 30 million passengers a year. A former Air New Zealand executive for 28 years, Ray left easyJet in a strong position, unveiling a better than expected rise in profits and a strong outlook. Ray Webster said: "I am honoured to be presented with such an award, however I must stress that the success of easyJet is the result of a passionate, dedicated and enthusiastic team that I am very proud to have been a part of."

Maurice Flanagan

Under Mr Flanagan's stewardship since start-up, Emirates has gone from two aircraft serving three destinations in India and Pakistan to a fleet of more than 100 aircraft and the only airline operating non-stop to all continents on the globe from the one hub. Emirates' and Dubai's ascendant influence on global aviation will change the structure of the industry in years to come.

Dato Seri Bashir Ahmad

Over several decades, he has had a quiet but massive influence in all sectors of Malaysia's aviation development, in what has been a remarkable period of aviation development and reform. Under Dato' Bashir's leadership and vision, KLIA has had an outstanding recent history. It is a regional leader in the low cost sector, which is driving millions in investment and tourism expenditure into the country. Malaysia's ascendant influence on Asian aviation will change the structure of the industry in years to come.

Dato Seri Tony Fernandes

Tony Fernandes is the youngest inductee into the Hall of Fame, but his impact on Asia Pacific aviation has been profound. Pioneering the cross-border joint venture model in Asia to open up new opportunities beyond its Malaysian base in Thailand and Indonesia, as well as low-cost long-haul services to link the region globally, the AirAsia Group is on track to handle 24 million passengers in 2009 – some 30% more than in 2008, despite the global economic slowdown. But AirAsia's impact is much more than its generation of strong traffic growth. The airline is catalysing positive change in the way governments, suppliers and its rivals are thinking and acting. We are delighted to recognise Tony Fernandes' leadership role in driving our industry forward.

Brett Godfrey

Brett Godfrey stepped down on 07-May-2010 after 10 years as CEO of Virgin Blue – a tenure that saw the development of Virgin Blue from start-up into Australia's second largest carrier, as well as the establishment of New Zealand-based Pacific Blue, the group's long-haul arm V Australia and the innovative cross-border JV with the Samoan Government. Among aviation industry figures he is unique. A relatively low-key, albeit Type-A, CEO, he has gone where few in aviation history have ever walked. Air fares today on most major routes in Australia are to be had for about a fifth of the price before he came along. Communities which despaired of ever convincing Australia's pre-2000 high cost airline duopoly to fly there, today have multiple jet services. And, to a very large extent, that is due to the vision and energy of one man, along with his willing and highly committed team. Virgin Blue would never have become a viable airline force without his passion, his obsessiveness and even pedanticism – to use his own description of himself.

Rob Fyfe

Rob Fyfe brought to Air New Zealand a change of style which drastically reshaped the mentality of the airline, engaging the workforce and its travelling public. Under his leadership the airline took on vital roles in community support during domestic tragedies over the past two years. He led from the front at all times – including the globally renowned marketing product designed to illustrate the airline's all-in offering. He has shown leadership in social media marketing and many other finer touches, including changing the way airlines do inflight safety announcements, encouraging passengers to pay attention to safety messages. Rob is the first to take his shirt off and join in.

CW Lee

Since CW Lee became CEO of Incheon International Airport Corp in 2008, the airport every year has been voted by Airports Council International as the world's best. Under his leadership the airport has been highly profitable while maintaining a high level of service at very low cost to airlines, and offering one of the world's best retail operations. After supervising the introduction of Phase 2 of the airport's now 44 million passenger capacity with a new runway and terminal expansions, CW Lee has prepared the financial and operational groundwork for Phase 3, which will see the airport capable of handling 62 million passengers annually and 5.8 million tonnes of cargo. Mr Lee has also diversified the company into consulting services for other airports, including taking a 10% holding in Vladivostok's Khabarovsk Airport.

Willie Walsh

Willie's focused and strategic management style has served him well at the helm of Aer Lingus, British Airways and IAG – of which he was the lead architect. In both 2015 and 2016, IAG achieved a return on invested capital above its estimated cost of capital, giving it the rare distinction among European legacy airline groups of creating economic value for investors.

Like those of other airlines, its 2016 results were helped by lower fuel prices, but IAG's strong improvement owes much to Willie Walsh's determination to stick to his goals, particularly as regards the turnaround of Iberia. IAG was the first among the larger European legacy groups to tackle labour cost restructuring. In addition, its 2013 acquisition of Vueling gave it a strategic advantage over Air France-KLM and Lufthansa in dealing with the short/medium haul threat from LCCs.

On long haul, it has eschewed anti-Gulf airline rhetoric with its Qatar Airways partnership, including a codeshare, a JV with BA and an equity stake. On the North Atlantic, it is now benefiting from its acquisition of Aer Lingus, and its long haul business has also been added to with the more recent launch of the long haul low cost airline brand LEVEL

Steven Udvar-Házy

Steven Udvar-Házy is widely regarded as the pioneer of the aircraft leasing industry, transforming aviation finance and making modern fleets more accessible to airlines globally. Co-founding International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) in 1973, he led its rise to become the world's largest lessor before founding Air Lease Corporation in 2010.

Under his leadership, aircraft leasing evolved into a cornerstone of the airline business, with leasing companies now owning more than half of the global commercial fleet. His contributions have fundamentally shaped the industry, and his visionary approach will continue to influence aviation for generations to come.