Athar Husain Khan has been appointed as the new Deputy Secretary General of the Association of European Airlines (AEA), which represents Europe’s leading network airlines.
In his new role, which takes effect on 1 September, Mr Husain Khan will head AEA’s political team and oversee progress on key dossiers, such as aviation’s imminent inclusion in the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
“Athar is a genuine asset to the AEA team and this promotion reflects his sterling achievements on behalf of our 36 member airlines,” said Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus, AEA Secretary General. “I have every confidence that AEA’s political team will flourish under his leadership.”
Mr Husain Khan joined AEA in February 2007 as General Manager Infrastructure, with responsibility for key value-chain issues such as airport charges and capacity, slots, ground handling, passenger rights and social affairs.
He was previously Director of Government & Industry Affairs for AEA member KLM, where he led the airline’s public affairs division. Before this he worked for the Dutch Government as Senior Policy Advisor for Aeropolitical affairs and an international traffic rights negotiator.
Mr Husain Khan, a Dutch national, spent his early years in the Middle East where he was educated in English and Arabic. He has a law degree from the University of Leiden, where he specialised in International, European and Air & Space law.
“AEA’s overriding objective for 2011 and beyond is to strengthen the competitiveness of European airlines,” said Mr Husain Khan. “An international level playing field is crucial to deliver the full economic benefits of aviation and I look forward to driving this agenda in my new role.”
