AIRLINE BUSINESS AWARD: WILLIAM A FRANKE

It's not every day that the governor of Arizona calls someone to request they rescue the state's failing regional airline. But that is how William A "Bill" Franke entered the aviation sector, in a sojourn lasting over 30 years. Legacy carrier America West Airlines had filed for b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Airline Business 2019-07, Vol.35 (6), p.49-49
Main Author: Segal, Sophie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aircraft
Airline industry
Airlines
Aviation
Bankruptcy
Cost control
Cost reduction
Wood products
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:It's not every day that the governor of Arizona calls someone to request they rescue the state's failing regional airline. But that is how William A "Bill" Franke entered the aviation sector, in a sojourn lasting over 30 years. Legacy carrier America West Airlines had filed for bankruptcy amid fierce competition from Southwest Airlines. A successful chief executive at various businesses throughout his career - including in wood products - Franke reluctantly accepted. America West turned cash-flow positive six months after Franke took charge, which he attributes to reducing costs and increasing revenue. It was off the successes at America West that in 2002 Franke established Indigo Partners, a private equity firm that invests in low-cost carriers.
ISSN:2632-6604
2632-7856