Veteran aviation executive John Selvaggio will take the reins of Carlsbad-based CPAir’s day-to-day management from founder and chairman Ted L. Vallas.
Editor's Note: the following is a press release from CPAir
Veteran aviation executive John Selvaggio has been named President and CEO of the new Carlsbad-based California Pacific Airlines. Selvaggio takes the reins of CPAir’s day-to-day management from founder and chairman Ted L. Vallas.
“We are, indeed, fortunate to be able to have an executive of John’s experience take over the reins from me,” said Vallas. “I couldn’t have found a better candidate for our particular operation if I had searched the world over.”
Vallas is a veteran of aviation himself. He owned and managed Air Resorts for 17 years (1980-1997), before ceasing operations.
“I’ve got everything started (CPAir), so now it’s time for John to take over, get us FAA and DOT certified and into the air,” he said.
In 1968, Selvaggio began his Airline career in the American Airlines Finance organization, attaining the position of Assistant Controller of Corporate Accounting within seven years.
After spending 13 years in the Finance Department, he moved into American’s Airport Operations, Sales and Marketing, and then promoted to head up the Strategic Planning organization. In that position he crafted the successful business plans that created several of American’s hubs, as well as the airline’s expansion into international markets. In that position, Selvaggio also was instrumental in the merger and integration with AirCal, and ultimately in the creation of American Eagle.
He spent six years as President of California-based Wings West (American Eagle), before he joined post-bankruptcy Midway Airlines in 1994. As President and CEO of Midway, Selvaggio created a bankruptcy-emergence business plan, moving the company from Chicago to Raleigh-Durham.
In 1997, after selling Midway to a group of North Carolina investors, Selvaggio joined US Airways, managing the operations of 10 regional carriers.
In 1999, Delta Airlines recruited John as Senior Vice President of Airport Customer Services. In that position he was responsible for creating Delta’s industry-leading airport technology, including the development of the check-in kiosks and the flat screen monitors at the gates. He also created a host of behind-the-scenes technologies as well.
Probably his most recognized and important accomplishment in aviation was as Founder, President and CEO of Song Airlines. Song was Delta’s highly-acclaimed low-cost, high-touch subsidiary that introduced several new concepts in customer service.
After retiring early due to the Delta bankruptcy, the airline re-hired him in 2007 to be President and CEO of Comair, where he focused on the continued improvement of operational performance.
During his entire airline career, he has developed a reputation for taking innovative approaches to tackle the most challenging projects and completing them in record time, and under budget.
“I’m too young to be retired. That’s why I accepted Ted’s challenge of getting CPAir certified and off the ground,” Selvaggio said. “With my extensive experience at American and American Eagle, I think I can fill the need that calls for a veteran hand to guide this exciting new venture and help Ted raise capital for growth.”
CPAir, which currently is in the FAA certification process, proposes to base at Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, CA, flying daily non-stop flights to San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. The new airline will fly 70-passenger Embraer 170s, the first of which was delivered last summer.
Selvaggio and Vallas anticipate CPAir will be through 121 certification by mid-summer.
Source: http://carlsbad.patch.com
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