Former New Hampshire governor Chris Sununu will be the next leader of trade/lobbying group Airlines for America (A4A).
/Chris-Sununu-in-2022..jpg?n=989&tr=w-500%2Cfo-auto "Chris Sununu in 2022.")
Chris Sununu in 2022. Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore
Sununu will assume the posts of CEO and president on Sept. 9, replacing the retiring Nick Calio, who has headed A4A for 14 years. Calio, who announced his intention to retire in January, will stay on as CEO emeritus through the end of the year.
Sununu was chosen by a search committee headed by United CEO Scott Kirby and American CEO Robert Isom.
Sununu, 50, was elected New Hampshire governor four times (starting in 2016), serving for eight years.
"Chris has consistently demonstrated strategic vision, operational expertise and a knack for getting hard things done. At this pivotal moment for U.S. aviation, he's the right leader for Airlines for America, and I look forward to working with him to advance aviation safety, modernize our air traffic control system, and ensure U.S. aviation continues to fuel the American economy," Isom said in a prepared remark.
Pushing for additional funding to modernize the U.S. air traffic control (ATC) system will be Sununu's most immediate priority.
Congress authorized $12.5 billion for an ATC system overhaul when it passed a massive budget bill in early July. But aviation stakeholders estimate that completing the overhaul by 2028, which is transportation secretary Sean Duffy's goal, will cost at least $31 billion.
The A4A member airlines are American, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue, Hawaiian and cargo carriers FedEx, UPS and Atlas Air.