John Holland-Kaye, the Chief Executive Officer of Heathrow Airport, has announced his resignation from his £1.5 million role, expected to take effect at some point in 2023, marking the end of his nine-year tenure.
Holland-Kaye’s leadership saw Heathrow embroiled in a protracted battle for expansion, with the controversial third runway remaining a point of contention despite court battles and lukewarm government approval.
The airport faced significant financial losses during the Covid-19 pandemic, enduring a turbulent recovery period. It briefly lost its status as Europe’s busiest airport and drew criticism from major airline customers for imposing passenger caps during peak summer seasons.
Paul Deighton, Heathrow’s Chair, praised Holland-Kaye as an “extraordinary leader” who worked tirelessly to collaborate with stakeholders, ensuring the country’s pride in its main gateway.
Holland-Kaye assumed the CEO role in 2014, following his tenure as Development Director, overseeing the construction of Terminal 2. Under his leadership, customer satisfaction reportedly improved, with a unique emphasis on workforce “mojo” among the airport’s strategic priorities.
Despite gaining government approval for expansion, challenges including changes in government, legal disputes, pandemic-induced passenger declines, and investment concerns hindered the third runway project.
Heathrow still aims to increase its capacity by approximately 50% through runway construction, potentially leading to over 240,000 additional flights annually over London. Holland-Kaye hinted at forthcoming details on revised expansion plans later this year.
Relations with major airlines soured amid disputes over staffing shortages and capacity limits during the summer of 2022. Holland-Kaye also faced criticism over landing charges, with accusations of excessive fees from industry figures like Willie Walsh, former CEO of British Airways’ parent company IAG.
The search for Holland-Kaye’s successor has commenced, with internal candidates Emma Gilthorpe, Chief Operations Officer, and Javier Echafe, Chief Financial Officer, emerging as potential contenders.
Holland-Kaye will oversee a smooth transition until his departure later in 2023, marking the end of an eventful era for Heathrow Airport.