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Infratil Airports Europe strengthens European Airports team

Analysis

(CAPA) Infratil Airports Europe Limited (IAEL) announced two

new appointments to its management team. David Leitch and Carly Arnold, both

currently with easyJet, will take up senior positions with IAEL in Dec-07.

Mr Leitch will take up the role of Group General Manager Business Development, which has been vacant since the return of Glenn Wedlock to New Zealand in Aug-07. He will lead the IAEL Business Development team in growing aeronautical activity and revenues at IAEL's three airports - Glasgow Prestwick, Kent International and Lübeck.

The business development team works with both current customers and potential new customers to encourage new services and to optimise the performance of existing services.

Mr Leitch is currently Head of Ancillary Revenue for easyJet, having joined the company in May-04 and has also held the position of Airport Development Manager. During his time at easyJet, Mr Leitch was closely involved in the successful growth of the airline in many markets including Scotland, Italy, Portugal, France and North Africa. More recently Mr Leitch has held responsibility for easyJet's Ancillary Revenue streams, specifically Inflight Retail and Online Partners.

Mr Letich said: "Airports and aviation are truly addictive environments, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity of joining Infratil at this moment. I am looking forward to meeting the many challenges and working closely with a winning team"

Ms Arnold will join in the role of Group Manager Product and Performance, a newly-created position at the heart of IAEL's goal of providing quality services to customers with highly efficient processes and a low cost base.

Ms Arnold will be a member of the Group Operations team and responsible for the identification, implementation and review of products and services. She will work with the local airport teams to review operational processes to optimise efficiency and effectiveness.

Ms Arnold is currently General Manager for easyJet at its London Luton base, which is home to 17 based aircraft. She is responsible for managing a team of over 600 crew and various third-party service providers to deliver a safe, on-time and cost-effective operation for 7 million customers annually.

Ms Arnold joined easyJet from Air New Zealand in 2002 as a Business Change Analyst and later became a Programme Manager before shifting into operations as General Manager for Bristol and Newcastle bases prior to her current role at London Luton.

Infratil Airports Europe CEO, Steve Fitzgerald, welcomed the new appointments, commenting: "We are delighted to have attracted new team members of the calibre of David and Carly into these key positions. It is immensely satisfying that exceptional people from one of the world's leading low cost airlines can see the potential of IAEL and want to be part of its exciting future.

"The Infratil Airports team is the equal of any airport management team in the world, with a strong blend of local and international talent from airports, airlines and other sectors of industry. I am confident that by bringing talented and motivated individuals such as these two on board, we are laying the foundations that will ensure that Infratil has a very bright future in the airport sector."

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