Oneworld CEO To Step Down, After Six Year Tenure

Global airline alliance Oneworld has revealed that its CEO Rob Gurney will depart from the post in summer 2023. 

Gurney succeeded Bruce Ashby in October 2016, after a 25-year career in the industry that included positions at British Airways, Qantas, Helloworld, and Emirates, where he stepped down as SVP-commercial operations for the Americas to take the alliance role.

His departure is effective July 1. American Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Vasu Raja will serve in an interim management capacity as he leads the alliance search for Gurney’s replacement. 

“We are grateful to Rob for his leadership in navigating Oneworld through the challenges of the past six years,” Oneworld Chairman and Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker said.

Under Gurney’s tenure, the alliance welcomed Royal Air Maroc, Alaska Airlines and future member Oman Air; committed to 10% sustainable aviation fuel targets from its members by 2030 as well as net zero carbon emissions by 2050; and launched its Oneworld connect membership platform with inaugural partner Fiji Airways in 2018. It also marked the 20th anniversary of its founding in 2019 and announced a move of its global headquarters from New York City to Dallas-Fort Worth in 2022. 

During the pandemic, the alliance worked with American Airlines, British Airways, and Oxford University to validate the efficacy of pre-departure COVID-19 tests in support of a safe re-opening of international travel.

Within the six-year period of Gurney’s tenure, the alliance also weathered the loss of Air Berlin when it ceased operations in October 2017 and LATAM Airlines in spring 2020, eight months after SkyTeam member Delta acquired a 20% stake. In April 2022, S7 Airlines membership was suspended “until further notice,” a move both described as a joint decision, following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Oneworld launched in February 1999 with founding members American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways and Qantas. Today its 13-member airlines operate over four million annual flights and serve more than 900 destinations. 

Gurney’s successor will be the alliance’s fifth top executive.