– USA, FL – Silver Airways’ Board of Directors today announced that Sami T. Teittinen has been appointed the airline’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and will join its Board, effective September 5, 2014. Teittinen currently serves as Silver Airways’ chief financial officer. Previously, the position of Silver Airways CEO was held by Dave Pflieger.
“Since joining Silver Airways’ executive team, Sami has consistently demonstrated impressive leadership capabilities and has been instrumental in the realignment of our strategic plan and cost structure. His proven track record of developing, growing and running successful businesses as a 20-year industry veteran coupled with his in-depth knowledge of Silver’s operations make Sami uniquely qualified to further the momentum the airline has already achieved,” said Silver Airways Chairman Matthew Ray. “We look forward to working with and supporting Sami and the rest of the Silver Airways team as we continue to drive this newly independent, award-winning airline to the next level.”
In his role as CEO, Teittinen will help execute the Company’s strategic efforts with the assistance of more than 800 Silver Airways team members, who together ensure the smooth operation of 33 aircraft providing more than 55,000 flights per year to 38 destinations in Florida, the Bahamas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Washington, D.C.
The Silver team has accomplished several notable achievements over the past few years, including the airline being named one of the Top 10 “Best U.S. Airlines” in Condé Nast Traveler Magazine’s 26th Annual 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards, and also being named the 2013 Regional Airline of the Year by Air Transport World. In addition, Silver Airways continues to validate its commercial model by strengthening its highly valued airline partnerships with United, JetBlue, American, Delta, US Airways and Bahamasair.
“I greatly appreciate the Board’s confidence in this appointment which is a testament to both its commitment to our business model and our strategic goals, and I look forward to further strengthening Silver’s operations while working closely with our dedicated and passionate Silver Airways team,” said newly appointed CEO Sami Teittinen. “Together, we will continue to build upon the solid foundation we have established as we implement our network and cost realignment strategy, simplify our fleet, improve operational performance, continue to focus on customer service, and leverage new strategic opportunities for future growth.”
Dave Pflieger is departing Silver Airways and will become the president and CEO of Honolulu-based airline Hawaii Island Air, effective October 1, 2014. “It has been my privilege to work with the Board and the talented team at Silver Airways. I am incredibly grateful for the experience. I leave confident knowing the airline and its team are in extremely capable hands, and Sami’s appointment as CEO will allow Silver Airways and its dedicated team members to accomplish great things for our customers and the communities we serve,” said Pflieger.
“The Board joins me in extending our appreciation to Dave for his service and contributions to the airline, and wishing him the best,” said Ray.
About Sami Teittinen
Sami Teittinen, who joined Silver Airways as its chief financial officer in January 2014, brings more than 20 years of aviation industry experience and a proven track record in developing, running and growing successful aviation businesses. Previously he served as a CFO with BBA Aviation Flight Support, a multi-billion dollar, publicly-traded, multinational aviation services company where he held key leadership positions with Aircraft Service International Group and Signature Flight Support, along with BBA Aviation Flight Support Division. During this tenure, he was responsible for primary leadership of all global business development, IT, finance, procurement, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic planning activities. Teittinen holds both a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master of Business Administration from University of Central Florida, and is a graduate of Finish Defense Forces, Reconnaissance School and Finnish Business College in Helsinki, Finland.
About Silver Airways
Silver Airways Corp. (IATA: 3M) is a U.S. owned and operated airline operating approximately 180 daily scheduled flights to/from 38 destinations in Florida, the Bahamas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and Washington, D.C. Silver offers flights between more Florida cities than any other airline and more flights between Florida and the Bahamas than any other U.S. airline, and has valued partnership and codeshare agreements with United Airlines and interline agreements with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, US Airways, Bahamasair, Hahn Air, and All Nippon Airways.
Silver is a 2013 two-time award winner, having been recognized by its industry and the traveling public. In February 2013, it was named the recipient of Air Transport World’s (ATW) 2013 Regional Airline of the Year Award, the first U.S. airline to win regional aviation’s top honor since 2008. This award recognized Silver’s outstanding achievements, as well as the company’s contributions toward elevating the entire regional aviation industry overall. In October 2013, Silver was named one of the Top 10 “Best U.S. Airlines” in the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler’s 26th Annual 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards.
The Silver fleet is comprised of 27 Saab 340B Plus aircraft (with a capacity of 34 passengers), each powered by highly reliable, fuel-efficient GE jet-turbine propeller engines. The airline also operates a small number of Beechcraft 1900D aircraft (maximum seating capacity of 19 passengers) in the airline’s Cleveland network.
Silver Airways is privately owned by Victory Park Capital, a Chicago-based investment firm that launched the airline in May 2011.
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