CAL names new bosses

(CNS): The new top spot at Cayman Airways will be filled temporarily by an overseas airline expert who will transition one of the national flag carrier’s long-serving employees into the role of CEO. CAL announced yesterday that it was appointing Gilles Filiatreault as its Acting Chief Executive Officer and Captain Olson Anderson (left) as the CEO Designate.

Filiatreault (left) comes with over 40 years’ international airline experience, with a significant portion of that in CEO positions and in advisory roles. A Canadian national, he has worked with Air Canada and also has experience in the Caribbean region, having held senior positions in Caribbean airlines. He joins Cayman Airways from his most recent post as CEO of TACV in the Cape Verde Islands. Anderson, who is currently serving as Vice President Flight Operations at Cayman Airways, will understudy Filiatreault to better prepare him to takeon the airline’s top job.

Filiatreault and Anderson will take up this dual role on 22 September with the departure of CAL’s present CEO, Patrick Strasburger, who tendered his resignation in July for what have been described as personal reasons. The Chairman of Cayman Airways’ Board of Directors, Angelyn Hernandez, said the two men would be up to the job.

“Olson brings to CAL over 20 years of international experience in the airline industry and knowledge of local and international regulatory matters,” she said. “Mr Filiatreault has a wealth of experience and brings depth to the brilliant team of professionals we have on the Executive team. We have every confidence that this team will successfully face the challenges and responsibilities of leading Cayman Airways.”

Meanwhile, in other airline-related news, Cayman Airways reported that one of its aircraft had been detained by the authorities in La Cieba yesterday afternoon. An Atlantic Airlines charter flight to Honduras by Cayman Airways (KX8030 and 8031) was, the airline said, “briefly detained” because of documentation.

CAL said that according to information received by the flight crew, led by Captain Perry Panton, the issue concerned improperly filed paperwork by Atlantic Airlines with the Honduran Civil Aviation Authorities.

“The matter was resolved within 4 hours and the charter flight departed at approximately 4:00 pm,” the airline stated.