We sat down with Tony Anderson, former marketing director at easyJet and a trailblazer in the aviation industry, to discuss Airlander, the evolving role of regional mobility, and the broader future of aviation. As one of the key figures behind easyJet’s rise as a leading European low-cost airline, Tony has decades of experience in shaping brands that disrupt industries. Today, he brings his insights to HAV, helping Airlander find its place in the next chapter of aviation’s journey.
Tony Anderson
1. You were a big part of the early days of easyJet. What do regional airlines need to be doing today that could make a big difference like easyJet did in the 1990s?
It’s a bit of a cliché but I’d say listen (and I mean really listen) to customers, aim to anticipate their future needs rather than just giving them what you think they want.
2. What does the future of flying look like to you?
I’m an optimist so I have to say bright, though doubtless there will be turbulence along the way.
3. Where do you see Airlander fitting into the future landscape of aviation?
I don’t believe there’s a silver bullet for the sustainability challenges facing the industry. I think we will see a range of different technologies and initiatives that collectively deliver the required change.
4. You’ve previously described yourself as a dreamer with your feet on the ground. How does that mindset shape your perspective on aviation today?
I love big ideas, but also believe simplicity is an underrated virtue and wary of over-complex technical solutions. I’m drawn to innovative use of proven technologies. The fact that Airlander has already flown in UK skies is a big plus for me.
5. You joined easyJet because you believed it was an idea whose time had come. What makes you feel that now is the right time for Airlander?
I think there’s a growing realisation that viable electric and hydrogen powered large aircraft are at least a generation away and SAF while welcome, can’t scale to the level required. Other solutions to mitigate emissions are needed before the end of this decade and Airlander is one of them.
6. Sustainability is a key issue for aviation. What personal motivations drive your interest in addressing this challenge?
I have four children and care deeply about their future on our planet. Motivation doesn’t get much more personal than that!
7. What advice would you give to airlines looking to stand out in today’s crowded market?
To use a sporting analogy, look for where the ball is headed rather than where it is right now.
8. How significant do you believe Airlander is for the future of regional aviation?
I believe Airlander is a potential game changer for regional airlines as regulatory pressure on aviation’s emissions, especially on short sectors, intensifies.
9. Looking back on your career, how does Airlander compare to some of the other aviation innovations you’ve worked on?
As is always the case with innovation there are believers and there are sceptics. In the case of easyJet few people outside the company believed we’d succeed in getting off the ground, let alone that our little orange start-up would one day become Europe’s second largest airline. I see plenty of similarities between easyJet then and Airlander today.