Cathay Pacific Appoints Abhijit Abhyankar As Regional Head For South Asia Middle East And Africa

Cathay Pacific has announced the appointment of Abhijit Abhyankar as Regional Head of Customer Travel and Lifestyle, a role that places him at the center of one of the airline’s most dynamic regions. Based out of Mumbai, Abhijit will be responsible for customer travel experiences, passenger sales, marketing communications, and lifestyle initiatives across key markets that include India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.

With more than two decades of expertise spanning aviation and hospitality, Abhijit brings a wealth of knowledge in customer engagement, sales, and brand building. He began his career in the hospitality sector with Ambassador Hotel, Le Meridien, and Holiday Inn, before moving into aviation with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and later Air France KLM. His transition into the airline industry allowed him to refine his skills in sales and marketing while developing a deep understanding of international markets.

Abhijit joined Cathay Pacific in 2009 as Corporate Sales Manager and has steadily risen through the ranks, taking on pivotal leadership roles that shaped the airline’s commercial and customer-focused strategies. His previous positions include Regional Head of People for SAMEA, Head of Marketing and Digital Sales for SAMEA, Regional Marketing Communications Manager for South Asia, and Area Sales Manager for Northern India.

He also served as Country Manager for Africa and the Indian Ocean, based in Johannesburg, where he was instrumental in expanding Cathay Pacific’s footprint in challenging markets.

In his new role, Abhijit is set to play a crucial part in strengthening Cathay Pacific’s brand presence in the region. His mandate goes beyond traditional airline leadership, as it involves building lifestyle partnerships, exploring retail collaborations, and enhancing digital engagement. The airline aims to position itself not only as a premium travel provider but also as a lifestyle brand that connects deeply with its customers across different touchpoints.

This appointment comes at an important time as Cathay Pacific continues to expand its influence in the SAMEA region, where rising passenger demand and evolving customer expectations are reshaping the aviation landscape. Abhijit’s leadership and cross-industry experience are expected to drive innovation and ensure that customers enjoy seamless and enriching experiences both during travel and beyond.

With this move, Cathay Pacific signals its commitment to investing in experienced leadership to strengthen its presence in key global markets and to reimagine the future of customer travel and lifestyle experiences.

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