Jon Conway, who recently left dnata, has been appointed Director General of ASA – the Airport Services Association and will take up his new position from the 1st March, 2017.
A familiar figure in the ground handling world, Jon began his aviation career in 1973, when he joined BOAC Cargo (which later became British Airways Cargo) based at London Heathrow. In 1981 he joined Cathay Pacific Airways, the start of a 27 year career with the Hong Kong based carrier. Initially working in the carrier’s freight operation at London Gatwick, Jon was appointed Airport Manager at Manchester in 1989, where he spent a further five years before moving to Hong Kong in 1994. Jon held a variety of senior management roles ending as Director & General Manager of Hong Kong Airport Services. He joined dnata as its Divisional Senior Vice President UAE Airport Operations in 2008 – a post he held for eight years before stepping down at the end of 2016.
Jon is keen to get started and commented on the task ahead: "As the airlines increasingly entrust their ground handling needs to third parties, it is clear to me that our growing industry needs the support and guidance of an energetic and value adding association. I'm looking forward to carrying on the excellent work the previous leadership has undertaken in recent years." Jon Conway, dnata’s former Divisional Senior Vice President Airport Operations, brings four decades of industry experience to ASA.
Industry leaders welcome the appointment
“I am delighted to welcome Jon to the family,” said Angela Gittens, Director General, ACI World. “As we strive to better integrate the ground services sector into the safety standards and practices to which airports are dedicated, we see ASA as a strong partner in achieving stretch goals in this regard. We look forward to working with Jon as he takes the reins of this dedicated and conscientious organisation.”
Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security (APCS) stated, “I welcome this announcement and very much look forward to working with Jon.”
The Board of the Airport Services Association (ASA) announced today that the Chairman, Mr Samim Aydin, and the Secretary General, Mr Martin Meyer have both stepped down after serving the association since 2010.
The Board has elected a new Chairman, Mrs Sally Leible.
Mrs Leible, who is currently the President and CEO of Airport Terminal Services, paid tribute to the work that Mr Aydin and Mr Meyer have done for ASA during the last six years. “When Samim and Martin joined the ASA board in 2010, ASA was just a fledgling association, struggling to be heard. Today, as a result of their hard work and influence at the highest level of our industry, ASA stands tall and alongside its stakeholder associations.”
Mr Aydin and Mr Meyer both joined the Board of ASA when it transitioned from the original handlers’ association that was known as IAHA – the International Airline Handlers’ Association. “On behalf of the entire Board and the members of ASA I would like to thank them for the enormous amount of time each has dedicated to ASA, despite having very demanding full time jobs, and wish them well in the future,” concluded Mrs Leible.
About the Airport Services Association
The Airport Services Association (ASA) was originally set up under the name of International Airline Handlers’ Association (IAHA) and became ASA in 2010. ASA represents the interests of the global aviation ground services community and its members provide aviation ground services at more than 250 airports around the world. For more information regarding ASA please contact admin@asa
