Interview
INTERVIEW
SKY PEOPLE
Steven Greenway joined SkyEurope on December 1, 2007 from Virgin Blue in Australia. He has been a in the aviation business ever since he graduated. Fresh out of university he bagged a job with Qantas, before moving to PWC as an aviation consultant and then ? nally to Virgin Blue, where he was head of E-commerce.
Steven Greenway
Chief Commercial Offcer at SkyEurope Airlines
Have you always wanted to work in aviation?
Yes, my whole career has been based around aviation since I left university. My dad was a senior manager at Qantas and my Mum was a flight attendant. My sister works for an airline. A lot of family friends work for airlines. So I don’t think I had much choice!
What was your fi rst job in the airline industry – and how did you progress to where you are today?
I worked as a graduate for Qantas. They put me on a training scheme and I got to see what a lot of diff erent departments were like. Commerce was the one I was best at and the one I preferred, which is why I’ve ended up here. I have done a heap of jobs in between, primarily in e-commerce but also in consultancy at PWC in the UK.
What does being Chief Commercial Offi cer actually entail on a day-today basis?
I run the whole commercial side of the business from pricing and scheduling to marketing and sales. It varies every day – but luckily it’s a small airline and a small team so I try to keep it as simple as possible. The best part is working out where we can fly next – cutting deals that sees us travelling to new destinations.
What would you be doing within SkyEurope if you weren’t CCO?
I would have been a pilot. I would still love to get my licence. One day I hope to get my act together and start flying.
What do you think makes Sky-Europe stand out above other airlines?
It’s a pioneer in Central Europe, which is something to be very proud of. We bring new standards of service, new aircraft and a new concept to the region.
What do you consider to be the key success factors for an airline? Remain focused and move quickly. Take opportunities and run with them when you can.
And what are the main diffi culties that can be encountered?
Fuel, fuel and fuel. Along with excessive government regulation in the airline industry, which restricts you in terms of what you can and can’t do.
What are the benefi ts of having a young fleet like SkyEurope’s?
Very low maintenance costs – it’s a bit like having a new car. Plus very low fuel consumption as all the aircraft are equipped with the latest fuel-saving technologies.
Also, the aircraft are equipped with the latest passenger comforts.
What are your favourite SkyEurope destinations and why?
Paris – the shopping and the food are amazing. And probably London, I used to live there so it’s almost like going home.
How is the SkyEurope network set to change over the next few years?
More of it is focused on business now – so we serve double or triple flights daily to key business routes. In the coming season, we have introduced Bari as a new route – along with a whole handful of places we’re announcing soon.
Does the SkyEurope team socialise outside the offi ce – do you have company events or teambuilding days?
Yes we do – I work in quite a close team and quite long hours so we try to get out as much as we can. We are all going to the High Tatras for example next month to do some exploring.
Where do you still want to visit?
Croatia. I haven’t had the chance to do Dubrovnik yet but it is on my list!
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