Chief Airline Executive — Cross‑AOC Alignment & Growth

Challenge Group; Luik; Sur place; EUR 200 000 - 350 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Challenge Airlines BE, the Belgian operating entity of Challenge Group, seeks an accomplished CEO to lead the local business and align the Group’s three AOCs into a coherent operating model. You will own the P&L, manage regulatory relationships, and drive cross-entity coordination with IL and Malta to maximize efficiency and market share.

You will report to the Challenge Group CEO and act as a principal architect of how the three certificates operate together, while upholding local regulatory

Qualifications

• Substantial and successful senior leadership experience in air cargo, airline operations, or aviation, ideally including P&L /Revenue-Cost and efficiency general management responsibility for an airline or AOC-holding entity.
• Demonstrated experience operating within, or aligning, cross-entity or cross-AOC group structures.
• Strong commercial acumen, with a track record of improving operational efficiency in a competitive, capacity-constrained industry.
• Working knowledge of EASA and Belgian aviation regulatory frameworks; familiarity with AOC governance requirements.
• Prior experience holding an Accountable Manager designation (or direct equivalent) under EASA or a comparable regulatory regime is strongly preferred.
• Comfortable operating in and collaborating within a matrixed environment, balancing local accountability with Group-wide alignment responsibilities.
• Strategic thinking, with the ability to translate Group direction into a local execution plan.
• Demonstrated experience implementing trust relationships with unions
• Cross-entity influence and diplomacy – able to align peers who do not report to them.
• Operational rigor and a bias toward measurable, data-backed efficiency improvement.

Responsabilités

• Lead Challenge Airlines BE with full P&L accountability and ensure financial and operational performance.
• Oversee regulatory standing with Belgian CAA and ensure compliance as Accountable Manager.
• Align the three Group AOCs into a cohesive Cross-AOC operating model and coordinate with IL and Malta.
• Drive market share growth and efficiency improvements across network with data-driven initiatives.
• Represent the company to regulators, customers, partners, and authorities, and governance forums.

Connaissances

Leadership

P&L accountability

Regulatory knowledge

Cross-AOC alignment

Strategic thinking

Governance & oversight

Commercial acumen

Data-driven decision making

Aviation operations

Stakeholder management

Formation

University degree (or equivalent by experience)

Description du poste

Challenge Airlines BE, the Belgian operating entity of Challenge Group, seeks an accomplished CEO to lead the local business and align the Group’s three AOCs into a coherent operating model. You will own the P&L, manage regulatory relationships, and drive cross-entity coordination with IL and Malta to maximize efficiency and market share.

You will report to the Challenge Group CEO and act as a principal architect of how the three certificates operate together, while upholding local regulatory