Stefan Pichler

Who is Stefan Pichler?

Stefan Pichler has been appointed the Managing Director & CEO of Fiji Airways in September 2013 where he will drive the rebranding of the airline as well as the future expansion. Prior to this, Pichler served as the CEO of Jazeera Airways K.S.C., a public listed airline on the Kuwait Stock Exchange, since June 2009. He has been responsible for a successful turnaround program which helped the company to return to sustainable profitability. Pichler has transformed the low cost carrier into a regional network airline which resulted in a significant higher revenue performance., In 2011, the operating profit margin was the second highest in the global airline industry and in 2012, this margin improved to 30.2%.

From 2004 to 2009, Pichler was part of Richard Branson’s Virgin Group. As a CCO he was responsible for Virgin Blue’s transition from a low cost carrier to a network carrier. As changes in the network, product, pricing and distribution materialized, the Australian airline Virgin Blue became one of the most profitable global airlines in 2006 and 2007. Pichler als served as the Chairman of V Australia, the new Virgin Group long haul carrier which launched in 2008.