Fred Reid : Airbnb's new Global Head of Transportation

Fred Reid is joining Airbnb as its global head of transportation, leaving a role as president for the last year of Cora Aircraft Program and Kitty Haw
He is perhaps best known as the first CEO of Virgin America in 2004 and then president of Bombardier division Flexjet between 2008 and 2012.
The San Francisco-based rental giant issued the following statement:
"Airbnb’s mission is to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere. To advance our mission, we are focused on reimagining travel by building an end-to-end travel platform that combines where you stay, what you do, and how you get there, all in one place. To achieve this goal, we are investing in creating new businesses that will power our growth over the long-term.
Today we are proud to announce that aviation industry pioneer Fred Reid has joined Airbnb as Global Head of Transportation. In his role, Fred will focus on building partnerships and services that make travel seamless while delivering the kind of people-to-people hospitality Airbnb is known for around the world.
There was a time when getting on a plane was a magical trip of its own, but over the years, how you get to where you’re going has become an experience we endure, not enjoy. We believe that needs to change.
We couldn’t ask for anyone better to take on this monumental task than Fred, and I’m honored that he’s agreed to work with us.
Brian Chesky, Airbnb Co-Founder, CEO and Head of Community
A global aviation expert with more than three decades of experience, Fred has a proven track record of innovating and building products that have been loved by consumers around the world. He joins Airbnb from his role as President of Cora Aircraft Program, a division of Kitty Hawk, where he oversaw the development of one of the most advanced autonomous electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft in the world. Prior to that, he was President of Flexjet, an independent operating unit of Bombardier, the world’s largest business aviation manufacturer.
Airbnb and its incredible global community have revolutionized where you stay and what you can do when you travel. I’m excited to work with them to tackle the third part of the travel experience: how you get there.
Whether in the air or on the ground, there are tremendous opportunities to create products and forge partnerships with other companies that make travel easier and even fun. Realizing those opportunities will take years and require constant experimentation, and I’m truly honored to have the chance to take on such an audacious challenge with this team.
Fred Reid, Airbnb Global Head of Transportation
Fred was the founding Chief Executive Officer of Virgin America, shaping America’s “next generation airline” from the ground up, including its unique and beloved inflight service and entertainment, catering quality, and interior design. He served as President of Delta Airlines and led the formation of SkyTeam, regarded as the most integrated global airline alliance. He was the first U.S. national to ever lead a major international airline when he was named President and Chief Operating Officer of Lufthansa German Airlines in 1996 and was the co-architect of the Star Alliance, the first ever multi-airline, independently branded alliance.
As we move forward, Fred and the Airbnb team are uniquely positioned to use the Airbnb platform to partner with others in the travel and tourism industry to deliver better travel experiences to millions of people around the world and create significant economic opportunities for these partners. Airbnb is powered by our unrivaled global community of hosts and guests — Airbnb can connect travelers to more than 5 million places to stay and thousands of incredible experiences around the world. The power of this community is why we project that there will have been over 500 million guest arrivals in Airbnb listings by the end of the first quarter of 2019. Our loyal and growing community has fueled a global brand that, according to a Google executive, “is now the most searched-for accommodations brand.” Together, our global community and brand enable us to create opportunities for partners in the travel space by offering them access to the Airbnb platform.
“We’re going to explore a broad range of ideas and partnerships that can make transportation better. We haven’t settled on exactly what those will look like,” adds Chesky. “I’m not interested in building our own airline or creating just another place on the Internet where you can buy a plane ticket, but there is a tremendous opportunity to improve the transportation experience for everyone.”
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
28/01 14:14
Finance Minister at Economist event: Greece has turned a page
28/01 14:11
Private sector deposits up by 5 billion euros in Greece during December
28/01 14:06
Ambassador to Athens: Greek and American interests are identical
28/01 13:59
Fitch upgrades Greece's credit to BB+ a mere one step below investment grade
28/01 09:03
27/01 15:09
Minister: Crete plays a key role in Greece's new and active foreign policy
27/01 14:48
Greek Tourism Minister: In 2023, direct flights from the USA will bring over €1 billion
27/01 13:01
SNF support assists students put affordable housing theory into practice
27/01 10:57
Hellenic Parliament displays slogan 'We remember' for Holocaust victims
27/01 09:03
EU Commission calls on six member states to apply nvironmental directives
26/01 21:58
26/01 21:53
Finance Minister presents six priorities of Greek economy to ESM's new head
26/01 21:47
Monica Bellucci at Greek Consulate in New York to promote "Maria Callas" movie
26/01 19:23
New European Union rules for drone traffic management come into effect on Thursday
26/01 18:43
Supreme Court hears arguments between funds and defaulted borrowers in Greece
26/01 18:12
Drop in coronavirus and flu infections agency records in weekly report
26/01 12:33
Stormy weather warning sent to residents of Attica region via 112 phone line
26/01 09:27
Flights extended from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to Mykonos and Santorini islands
26/01 08:38
Athens to host two European football finals over the coming 16 months
26/01 07:16
All 22 flights to and from Cyprus to be affected by Thursday's island-wide strike
26/01 03:19
Media report: Hamptons to bring New York-style luxury to Northern Greece
26/01 03:12
Greece to transform "green" commercial shipping fleet with new fund
26/01 03:01
AIRDNA: Average price of Airbnb in Greece at €193 in 2022 up by 35% from 2019
25/01 20:50
1.7 million pensioners to see 7.75% pension rise in Greece this month
25/01 19:46
IATA welcomes restoration of ‘Class A’ ATC services over Somalia airspace
25/01 19:34
Greek FM: MoU with Mozambique opens communication between the two countries
25/01 17:53
UNWTO and partners advance shared accessibility agenda for tourism industry
25/01 17:16
Dangerous weather warning sent to residents of Greece's Achaia via 112 phone line
25/01 16:07
Quake near Greek island of Rhodes had a magnitude of 5.9 Richter
25/01 13:57
INSIDE-A six-hour visual meditation event in the Athens Concert Hall
24/01 21:30
Passenger traffic in summer 2022 rises 4% from 2019 at 24 Greek airports
24/01 21:04
Greek Foreign MInister concludes Johannesburg visit before heading to Mozambique
24/01 19:37
Mexico's Yucatán State joins global Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories
24/01 18:44
24/01 18:00
Deal for the operation of the WHO Office in Cyprus to be inked on Friday
24/01 17:13
Finance Minister: Greek government secured rise in households' income
24/01 17:08
First credits on market pass cards handed out in Greece by March 3
24/01 16:56
24/01 15:46
Media report: Pistachios from Greek Island of Aegina are top in the world
24/01 11:23
Irish writer claims tourism and development may be the end of Corfu island
23/01 23:32
Report: Athens’ Lycabettus Hill offers stunning views of Acropolis, Saronic Gulf
23/01 22:56
IATA: Aviation welcomes pause on roll-out of new border system for EU
23/01 19:48
Shipping Minister hails Royal Caribbean’s plans to open office in Cyprus
23/01 19:29
Culture Minister: Deal on Parthenon Marbles' return 'difficult, but not impossible'
23/01 16:28
Bank of Greece: Travel receipts soar by 68.5% during January - November 2022
23/01 15:44
Greek Prime Minister: Greece's image abroad is now very positive
23/01 14:23
23/01 14:00
E-car subsidy program underway in Greece with 10,500 filed applications
23/01 12:40
Solar power capacity projected to increase further in Greece during 2023
22/01 14:07
Greek soprano featured in tribute to legendary Maria Callas in Athens
22/01 13:08
Greek Prime Minister in Davos: We will not go to war with Turkey (video)
22/01 10:07
Greek Minister briefs 27 ambassadors on effective protection of EU's borders
22/01 09:01
7.75% hike will start being paid out with February's pension checks in Greece
21/01 23:23
UNWTO at FITUR 2023: Investing in a diverse, sustainable future for tourism sector
21/01 22:10
Significant reduction in power bills coming in Greece during February
21/01 17:06
Prime Minister: Greece will receive investment grade right after elections
21/01 15:02
New York Consulate General of Greece honors the victims of the Jewish Holocaust
21/01 13:58
Northern Greek city of Kastoria presents new all-seasons tourism promotion logo
21/01 11:50
Municipal construction workers announce strikes from January 23 - February 13
20/01 13:04
United States Secreatry of State Blinken likely to visit Athens on February 21
20/01 00:48
Three songs could represent Greece Eurovision 2023 competition
20/01 00:41
Chocolate Fest 2023: Greece's favourite sweet festival returns
20/01 00:36
Greek chambers urge for lower energy bills for households and enterprises
19/01 22:32
UNWTO and Development Bank of Latin America eye tourism investments together
19/01 20:55
Ayia Napa museum in Cyrpus to host 140 artworks from Municipal Gallery of Famagusta
19/01 20:29
2023 Eleusis European Capital of Culture opening weekend on Saturday, February 4
19/01 18:44
Covid-19 hospital admissions and deaths rose in Greece on January 9-15
19/01 18:17
Bank of Greece governor meets Single Supervisory Mechanism head in Athens
19/01 17:53
Greece receives more than 11 billion euros from Recovery and Resilience Plan
19/01 17:22
International Air Transport Association launches 2023 air cargo innovation awards
19/01 11:00
Hermes Airports head: Qatar Airways to transport 80,000 passengers to Cyprus in 2023
18/01 23:41
SEI: India can follow the example of Greece for renewable investments
18/01 22:11
President of Hellenic Republic welcomed to Berlin by Bundestag counterpart
18/01 22:06
Repair works at Balikli Greek Hospital in Istanbul to be finished in three months
18/01 21:33
18/01 21:25
New York Times shines light on Parthenon Marbles with front page story
18/01 19:14
Media report: How expat Greeks can vote in the 2023 Greek elections
18/01 18:21
Bulgaria honoured at 1st International Circular Economy Expo in Thessaloniki city
18/01 17:47
Electricity price to fall further in the Hellenic Energy Exchange on Thursday
18/01 13:29
Greek Foreign Minister attends meeting organised by Swedish Embassy in Athens
17/01 21:06
Celebration of Orthodox Epiphany and cutting of the vasilopita in faraway Iceland
17/01 20:44
Greek capital of Athens at the helm of the B40 Balkan Cities Network
17/01 20:25
Revised aviation industry standards reflected in 2023 edition of IATA manuals
17/01 19:53
AP report: Minister says migrant arrival numbers sharply down in Greece
17/01 19:38
Electricity prices drop sharply in Greece for the first time in 18 months
17/01 18:33
Tourism set to return to pre-pandemic levels in some regions in 2023
17/01 18:29
Finance Minister statement: New 10-year Greek bond issue is a success
17/01 18:21
17/01 15:40
Tourist arrivals in Cyprus reach 3.2 million despite loss of Russian and Ukrainian market
17/01 14:00
Cyprus Deputy Minister of Culture attends Davos Alliance meeting
16/01 21:38
Media: Electric aircraft to revolutionize travel and protect ecosystem in Greece
16/01 21:30
Chinese New Year celebrated with music concert in Athens on Saturday
16/01 21:16
Israeli FM: 'Tel Aviv sees great importance in Israel-Cyprus-Greece triangle'
16/01 18:02
Reconstruction of Greece's North Evia masterplan includes 71 projects and actions
16/01 15:21
Foreign Minister visits historic church of the Greek Diaspora in Venice
16/01 15:07
Royals from all over the globe in Athens for funeral of King Constantine of Greece
16/01 14:38
Hosteltur: Island of Crete in top 10 travel destinations for adventure and wellness
16/01 13:35
Temperatures to rise sharply in Greece on Tuesday and Thursday
14/01 21:35
Hike in minimum wage brought forward to April 1, 2023 by Greek government
14/01 21:27
Another 400 patrol officers to be hired at Greek border of Evros in 2023
UNWTO and partners advance shared accessibility agenda for tourism industry
Ambassador to Athens: Greek and American interests are identical
Fitch upgrades Greece's credit to BB+ a mere one step below investment grade
Finance Minister at Economist event: Greece has turned a page
Minister: Crete plays a key role in Greece's new and active foreign policy
Greek Tourism Minister: In 2023, direct flights from the USA will bring over €1 billion
Private sector deposits up by 5 billion euros in Greece during December
EU Commission calls on six member states to apply nvironmental directives
Hellenic Parliament displays slogan 'We remember' for Holocaust victims
SNF support assists students put affordable housing theory into practice
Hosteltur: Island of Crete in top 10 travel destinations for adventure and wellness
Deputy FM conveys best wishes for New Year to Greeks of Diaspora
Finance Minister presents six priorities of Greek economy to ESM's new head
British Museum offers only to loan Athens Parthenon marbles to Greece
BoG: More than 26.4 million tourists visited Greece in the first ten months of 2022
Athens metro stations to close on selected dates this summer
Greece to transform "green" commercial shipping fleet with new fund
Media report: Hamptons to bring New York-style luxury to Northern Greece
Children from Ukraine to arrive in Greece as part of European Union programme
Media: British Museum says talking deal to loan Greece Parthenon Marbles
AIRDNA: Average price of Airbnb in Greece at €193 in 2022 up by 35% from 2019