First Flight

In this episode, Rami El-Dahshan discusses how airport lounges are at the forefront of excellent customer service, what luxury looks like to passengers now, and how airport experiences will develop in the future. 

Rami El-Dahshan joined Virgin Atlantic over six years ago from British Airways and has weathered one of the most disruptive periods for airlines and airports; the COVID-19 pandemic. Now as Virgin Atlantic passengers are almost back to their pre-pandemic levels, El-Dahshan has turned his focus to revamping the lounges and customer experiences, including adding more sustainable suppliers and even picking the fresh produce on the farm himself. 

First Flight is a production of FlightGlobal, an award-winning aviation media company, and is hosted and executive produced by Amber Elias.

In this episode, Stephanie Wear, Vice President of Aviation Development at London Gatwick discusses the airports expansion plans for the North runway, the new routes on offer in 2024 and how slot reform is still a priority.

Stephanie Wear joined London Gatwick in 2021 from Philadelphia International Airport, after a career in foreign trade and tourism. London Gatwick is the UK’s second-busiest airport, serving over 40 million passengers in 2023 and with an ambitious target to be a net zero airport by 2030, it is focused on rebuilding and growing sustainably.

First Flight is a production of FlightGlobal, an award-winning aviation media company, and is hosted and executive produced by Amber Elias.

In this episode, Candace McGraw discusses how airports and governments can work together to achieve sustainable targets, the impact of new technology to shape the airports of the future, and the importance of recruiting employees from the ground up to shape the workforce for decades to come.  

Candace McGraw began her two-year term as the new chair of ACI World in January 2024, and she now chairs the ACI World Governing Board that consists of 28 leading airport CEOs. McGraw is also the chief executive officer of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. 

First Flight is a production of FlightGlobal, an award-winning aviation media company, and is hosted and executive produced by Amber Elias.

In this episode, Catherine Jestin discusses how Airbus has been using AI for over 20 years, what the future of digital technology looks like in aviation, and the lessons she learnt from her career in mining (hint: it includes autonomous vehicles).

Catherine Jestin has been at Airbus since 2013, and before aviation held senior roles at Rio Tinto and Accenture. Airbus is the largest aeronautics and space company in Europe and is a leader in commercial aircraft, helicopters, advanced technologies, and employs over one hundred and thirty thousand people. 

Welcome to First Flight, a new podcast by FlightGlobal.

In each episode, Amber Elias will be speaking with CEO’s, experts and innovators from across the aviation industry. Join FlightGlobal as we explore the length and breadth of a global industry.

First Flight is the first podcast by FlightGlobal, an award-winning aviation media company.

First Flight is a production of FlightGlobal and is hosted and executive produced by Amber Elias.