Hughes Boulnois appointed as AALTO CEO to deliver updated strategy

Farnborough, UK: AALTO HAPS Ltd. (“AALTO” or “the Company”), an Airbus subsidiary which designs, manufactures and operates the Zephyr High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS), has appointed Hughes Boulnois as CEO. Hughes succeeds Samer Halawi in the role with immediate effect.

After conducting an extensive review of AALTO’s market, structures and strategy, Airbus Defence and Space has decided to update the Company’s focus to align with the strong demand for HAPS solutions across the government sector, alongside the priorities of its strategic investors included in HAPS JAPAN Corporation.

Hughes joined Airbus in 2004 as an engineer and has since held several executive roles, leading programme, customer and business management. He brings with him detailed knowledge and expertise of HAPS technology, having served most recently as Vice President for Zephyr at Airbus. He was previously responsible for customer programme management for the A400M, leading its business growth and export support. He also served for more than five years as General Manager for Airbus’ SpaceDataHighway, the world’s first operational optical communication system.

The appointment of Hughes follows a period of significant progress for Zephyr’s industrial and technical roadmap. This includes the successful testing in May 2024 of a Zephyr test aircraft equipped with newly developed advanced flight controls in Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. Demonstration of Zephyr’s advanced technical maturity was followed by the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s decision to issue a Design Organisation Approval to the Company in July 2024, a crucial regulatory milestone towards Type Certification.

AALTO’s ongoing priority remains delivering its customer flights from its AALTOPORT in Kenya, where Zephyr’s first permanent launch and landing site is located. Several additional customer missions are planned for the coming year.

Jean-Brice Dumont, Chair of the AALTO Board of Directors and Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space, said: “After a decade of stewardship by Airbus and two years since years we created AALTO, Zephyr has established itself as the leading platform HAPS globally. Our focus is now on accelerating the industrial roadmap for Zephyr, while delivering for our existing customers and capitalising on focused market opportunities.

“With the appointment of Hughes, AALTO has gained a proven leader in aerospace and defence, with a track-record of delivery for customers and leading programme development. With his expertise across a wide portfolio at Airbus, alongside his unique understanding of the HAPS industry. I am confident he will lead AALTO through its next phase of growth.”

Hughes Boulnois, CEO of AALTO, commented: “As AALTO re-aligns its strategy and approach, the business is entering a critical period where it will be focused on customer delivery, governmental markets and operational excellence. Although there are challenges ahead, I am confident that AALTO will reach its ambitions in markets including government and commercial connectivity. I look forward to working with our partners, investors, customers and colleagues at AALTO, as we realise the potential of Zephyr.”

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