The sky’s the limit for outgoing CEO
Chris Zweigenthal may be heading to the Big Apple on new adventures, but he will still miss home. By
CChris Zweigenthal, the outgoing CEO of a body that represents airlines in Southern Africa, agreed to a virtual lunch meeting in early June at a time of big changes in his personal life.
Zweigenthal was hypervigilant around Covid-19 – preferring a meeting via Google Meet over dining at a restaurant for fear of contracting the virus. After all, Gauteng, where Zweigenthal and I are based, was starting to be in the throes of the third wave of Covid-19 infections.
It wasn’t only a period of worry about the third wave. Before our 2pm meeting, Zweigenthal’s daughter gave birth – making him a grandfather (again) for the fourth time. “We mourn the loss of life from this pandemic, but at the same time, we celebrate new life,” he said.
Zweigenthal will have more time to reflect on life and his next chapter because, at the end of August 2021, he will retire as CEO of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) – a job he has held since March 2009. To lighten the mood and move away from the dour Covid-19 discussion, I asked him about what he had for lunch at his AASA office, from where he has connected. On his lunch menu was a bowl of soup, with a serving of crackers – a step change from his usual choice of a salad that is paired with cold meat. His lunch choice puts mine to shame as a deadline-driven day meant that I only had the time to reach out for a banana and a cup of coffee.
Unlike many people who are still grappling with lockdown weight gain (including this writer) – especially in SA, which imposed the strictest lockdown in the world that prohibited dog walking and jogging – Zweigenthal’s waistline emerged unscathed out of quarantine. “I enjoy my food and I am not a fussy eater. I normally stay away from carbohydrates as they tend to go to the waistline. My weight has stayed reasonably constant, and I got a fair amount of exercise.”
Move to the Big Apple
Big life changes are in the offing for Zweigenthal. In the next few weeks, he will be moving to the US – a town in New York state called Schenectady – with his wife of 37 years, Lee-Ann, to be closer to his son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. Their
US visas were approved sooner than expected, prompting Zweigenthal’s early retirement at AASA (he was only meant to retire at the age of 65 by the end of 2022).
“I have mixed emotions about leaving South Africa. I am excited about being with my grandchildren. But at the same time, I am sad because my wife and I are leaving our family behind.”
Many people would take any opportunity to leave South Africa, without any hesitation, as the country at times feels like it’s becoming a failed state. During my discussion with Zweigenthal, load shedding had intensified (and interrupted our virtual discussion).
The serially delayed release of more radio-frequency spectrum is still undermining the quality of internet and download speeds (Zweigenthal’s screen froze at least three times during our discussion). And we spoke a day after South Africa’s official joblessness rate reached a record high of 32.6% in the first quarter of 2021 and 75% for youth unemployment. But he remains optimistic about the country.
“The 1994 founding fathers might be concerned by what they see today regarding the state of the country. Corruption has gotten worse and the economy is under severe pressure.
“I still believe that the country will continue to generate leaders that are honourable and can lead us. We have to be hopeful that there is ultimate goodness in people to turn things around.”
I have mixed emotions about leaving South Africa. I am excited about being with my grandchildren. But at the same time, I am sad because my wife and I are leaving our family behind
Sticking with aviation
Zweigenthal doesn’t plan to completely leave Africa’s aviation industry as he wants to consult from the US. After all, Zweigenthal, who is a qualified engineer-turned-airline-industry-supremo, has more than 30 years’ experience in the aviation industry.
He initially worked for the construction division of the South African Transport Services (SATS), now Transnet, in 1988 “building railways, bridges and roads”. Zweigenthal later joined SAA when the state-owned airline was unbundled from SATS. He left SAA in 2001 and started doing work for AASA.
A lot of airlines will probably knock on his door for help as the Covid-19 pandemic has negatively impacted global air travel, and the restart of the industry will be a herculean task.
Zweigenthal expects domestic travel volumes in South Africa to return to pre-Covid levels in 2022, and 2024 for international travel. This depends on how fast and wide vaccines can get to the public, and the reopening of international borders.