Robin Hayes is the Chairman and CEO of Airbus in North America. He is responsible for Airbus’ commercial aircraft and commercial services businesses throughout the Americas, as well as coordination with Airbus Helicopters, the company’s market-leading helicopter business, and Airbus U.S. Space & Defense.
With thousands of employees, Airbus’ regional presence comprises corporate offices, engineering and innovation centers, training facilities, MROs, spare parts distribution centers, imagery drone services and large-scale manufacturing facilities producing commercial aircraft, helicopters and satellites.
Bringing more than 30 years of global aerospace experience to Airbus, Robin also chairs Acubed by Airbus, the company’s Silicon Valley-based innovation arm; is a board member of Airbus Ventures, which invests in early-stage technologies across the globe; and is a member of the Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Board – a multibillion-dollar joint venture between Airbus and the Province of Quebec to procure parts, assemble and market the world’s most modern commercial aircraft, the A220.
Prior to joining Airbus, Robin served as Chief Executive Officer of JetBlue Airways Corporation for nine years. He joined the airline in 2008, serving as the company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer until becoming President of the airline in January 2014. He was appointed as JetBlue’s third chief executive officer in February 2015.
Before JetBlue, Robin spent 19 years at British Airways, where he ascended to the position of Executive Vice President for the Americas. He held a variety of roles of increasing responsibility in operational and commercial divisions, including frontline customer service, leading the airline’s leisure department and general manager for Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.
From 2020 to 2022, Robin was the Chairman of IATA’s Board of Governors, where he championed the air transport association’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. He currently serves on the board of directors for KeyBank and Make-A-Wish Connecticut.
Robin is a University of Bath alumni, having earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Masters in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
A U.S. citizen since 2012, Robin and his wife have residences in Virginia and Connecticut and have three grown children.
