Jens Fehlinger, a seasoned executive within the Lufthansa Group, has been appointed as the new CEO of Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS), effective October 1, 2024. This follows the departure of Dieter Vranckx, who is set to join the Lufthansa Group Executive Board on July 1, 2024.
Fehlinger, 43, joined the Lufthansa Group in 2006 and has held various leadership roles throughout his career. His experience includes managing strategy and business development at Lufthansa Airlines, overseeing operational performance for the Lufthansa Group, and leading the Group’s crisis management office during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also spearheaded the ReNew restructuring project. Most recently, he served as Co-Managing Director of Lufthansa CityLine and Managing Director of the newly established Lufthansa City Airlines.
Fehlinger’s qualifications extend beyond his extensive management experience. He holds a commercial pilot’s license for the Airbus A320 and actively pilots for Lufthansa CityLine. He is also a graduate of the University of Bremen, Germany, with a degree in Aviation Systems Engineering and Management. He further possesses a master’s degree in Traffic and Transport from the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, and an Executive MBA from the IE Business School in Madrid, Spain.
Until Fehlinger officially assumes his role as CEO, Heike Birlenbach, Chief Commercial Officer of SWISS, will serve as the interim CEO.
