Ekali, 23 March 2025: This year’s awards ceremony for the Air Transport Awards took place next to the 2025 Air Transport Symposium with the participation of industry leaders.
The 2025 Air Transport Awards are in partnership with Hermes – Air Transport Organisation and ATN – Air Transport News.
Welcoming the participants, Dr Kostas Iatrou, President of the 2025 Air Transport Awards said: “The Air Transport Awards from 2012 recognise the leaders in our industry based on their achievements”.
“Vienna International Airport is one of Europe’s most forward-moving airports: We are continuously expanding our route network, investing in modern infrastructure such as the Southern Expansion of Terminal 3, and actively driving sustainability. With a diverse range of destinations, high service quality, and strong airline partnerships, we are further strengthening Vienna’s position as a leading international hub – today and for the future. We are therefore delighted to receive the ATN Corporate Award,” says Julian Jäger, Joint CEO and COO of Vienna Airport.
“We are honored to receive the ATN International Organisation Award for 2025. This recognition reflects AACO’s unwavering commitment to strengthening Arab aviation and the broader industry by fostering regional collaboration and driving innovation for a more connected and sustainable future.”
Star Alliance CEO Theo Panagiotoulias said: “We are honoured to receive the Alliance of the Year award from Air Transport Awards. It is testament to our focus on enabling seamless customer experiences across our member airlines. From booking a flight to enjoying loyalty benefits, we aim to make every journey as effortless as possible. We’re delighted at this acknowledgement.”
“Accepting this award for the second year in row is a proud moment for Embraer. 2025 has kicked off strongly with record results for 2024 and an E2 order from All Nippon Airways. 2025 is already shaping up to be another strong year for Embraer, and not just in E2 sales – the 190F E-Freighter is now triple certified, C-390 is winning orders across NATO and the world, and Executive Jets just announced a blockbusting US$7bn order for 182 aircraft. This is award is a recognition of Embraer’s commitment to engineering excellence and our dedication to serving customers, thank you.” Arjan Meijer, President & CEO, Embraer Commercial Aviation.
“At iGA Istanbul Airport, we are honored to have been awarded this prestigious award for the fifth consecutive year. Being named as the Airport of the Year is a testament to the unwavering dedication and relentless efforts of our entire team, who consistently pursue excellence in every aspect of our operations. Together, we are committed to raising the bar in efficiency, sustainability, innovation, and passenger experience. With even more ambitious goals set for 2025, this recognition reaffirms our steadfast commitment to delivering world-class services. We are truly humbled to be acknowledged as a leader in the industry and extend our gratitude to the Air Transport Awards team for this esteemed honor. We remain dedicated to providing the highest level of service for our passengers and stakeholders, striving to exceed expectations every step of the way.” said Selahattin Bilgen, CEO, iGA Istanbul Airport.
Dr Christos Tsitouras, Governor of HCAA: “I feel honoured to receive the “Katerina & George Iatrou” Lifetime Achievement Award in the memory of Kostas’ beloved parents. George Iatrou was an esteemed executive at the National Mortgage Bank of Greece and an eminent figure of Ekali where I also live. Katerina Iatrou was a very supportive mother who played a major role in shaping Kostas’ multidimensional character and charismatic personality. In fact, this award bestowed upon me by Kostas and his family reflect the importance of intergenerational solidarity and fully encapsulate the essence of aviation: actively learning from the past; meticulously implementing at present; and thoroughly designing ahead for a sustainable and resilient future.”
Mehmet T. Nane, Chairperson of the Board of Pegasus Airlines, stated: “I am truly honoured to receive the ‘Leader of the Year’ award at the 2025 Air Transport Awards. This recognition is not just a personal achievement, but a testament to the dedication, resilience, and passion of my colleagues at Pegasus Airlines, who work tirelessly to connect people, innovate and push the boundaries of excellence in aviation, including in our mission to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Indeed, sustainability is at the heart of our strategy and we take great pride in pioneering initiatives that contribute to this goal whilst enhancing the overall travel experience for our guests, including our continued investment in next-generation aircraft that has led us to having one of the youngest fleets in the world.”
In particular, the winners by category are as follows:
-ATN Individual Award: Ioanna Papadopoulou
-ATN Corporate Award: Vienna International Airport
-ATN International Organisation Award: AACO
-Alliance of the Year: Star Alliance
-Manufacturer of the Year: Embraer
-Airport of the Year: iGA Istanbul Airport
-Airline of the Year: Pegasus Airlines
-“Katerina & George Iatrou” Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr Christos Tsitouras, Governor, HCAA
-Leader of the Year: Mehmet Nane, Chairperson, Pegasus
About the Air Transport Awards
The Air Transport Awards are international prizes of and for the air transport industry. The awards are recognition of excellence and of the achievements of the aviation sector. The annual awards are bestowed to organisations, companies and leaders of the air transport industry.