Athar Husain Khan, secretary-general of the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), died suddenly on Sunday, March 26 at the age of 60.
“It is with shock, complete disbelief, deep sadness and heavy hearts that we mourn the loss,” says Juergen Wiese, EBAA chairman. “Athar always put the human element first and steered the industry in the right direction during challenging times.”
Husain Khan, who led EBAA since July 2018, has been involved in European and international aviation for more than 30 years.
Pete Bunce, president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, called Husain Khan a “champion and strong advocate for European business aviation.”
His knowledge and expertise of the global aviation industry will be missed.
“Athar was a good friend and was well known for his hard work, passion and dedication to fostering and advancing a healthy and robust ecosystem for our industry to flourish,” Bunce says. “His steadfast leadership and compelling voice for business aviation will forever be remembered.”
Ed Bolen, National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) president and CEO, called Husain Khan a “trusted partner, respected leader and true aviation professional.”
He worked with NBAA on many issues, Bolen says, most notably the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE), which is co-hosted by the two organizations.
Husain Khan graduated from the University of Leiden with a degree in European law, human rights law and international law and he specialized in air and space law. Following graduation, he worked for the Dutch Ministries of Education and Transport where he was senior policy advisor and negotiator on aeropolitical affairs. He held positions as KLM’s director of government and industry affairs and CEO of the Association of European Airlines. Prior to joining EBAA, he served as an agreements and international relations consultant for the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority in Doha.
Husain Khan spent his early years in the Middle East and had a lifelong interest in the interactional aspects of eastern and western cultures, religion and politics.
He leaves behind a wife, Nynke La Porte, and a son, Yskandar Afsar Husain Khan.
