Canada Jetlines has appointed former Southwest Airlines executive, Michael Bata as Chief Operations Officer, with immediate effect.
Michael Bata is a seasoned aviation veteran with more than 35 years in the aviation industry and has held positions with multiple top companies. "I am thrilled to welcome Michael to our Jetlines team. He brings the right experience and an outstanding attitude that will help build the foundation for Jetlines’ future. His entrepreneurial spirit and track-record of tight operational control will be an asset as we move closer to first flight and continue to build the team,” commented Javier Suarez, CEO of Jetlines.
Michael Bata commented, “I am very excited and look forward to working with all of the Jetlines’ teams. Coming from an industry leader like Southwest Airlines then continuing with Vueling and JetSuite, I understand the value of a strong, unique, positive, company culture which can only be realized by supporting a talented and dynamic team. Together we will be hyper-focused on maintaining detailed operational control which is paramount for low-cost carriers. Javier and the current management team have done a great job so far and I look forward to being a part of Jetlines’ success as we prepare for our launch and into the future.”
During his nine years at Southwest Airlines, he held a number of senior roles, including that of Director of Maintenance, which saw him lead a team of 665 employees and maintaining a $459 million annual budget.
Canada Jetlines is set to become Canada’s first true Ultra-Low-Cost Carrier (ULCC) with plans to operate flights across Canada and provide non-stop service from Canada to the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. The Company plans to commence operations with the Airbus A320 fleet, the most widely used aircraft for ultra-low cost carriers worldwide. Jetlines is led by a board and management team with extensive experience and expertise in low-cost airlines, start-ups and capital markets. The Company was granted an unprecedented exemption from the Government of Canada that will permit it to conduct domestic air services while having up to 49% foreign voting interests.