Jet Airways

Naresh Goyal, the founder Chairman of Jet Airways, India’s premier airline, has over 4 decades of experience in the Civil Aviation industry.

In addition to his responsibilities at Jet Airways, Mr. Goyal was also appointed Chairman of JetLite in 2007, following the acquisition and subsequent re-branding of the erstwhile Sahara Airlines Limited.

After graduating in Commerce in 1967, Mr. Goyal joined the travel business with the GSA for Lebanese International Airlines. From 1967 to 1974, he underwent extensive training in all facets of the travel business through his association with several foreign airlines. He also travelled overseas extensively on business during this period.

With the experience, expertise and technical know-how thereby acquired, in May 1974, Mr. Naresh Goyal founded Jetair (Private) Limited with the objective of providing Sales and Marketing representation to foreign airlines in India. He was involved in the development of traffic patterns, route structures, operational economics and flight scheduling, all of which has made him an authority in the world of aviation and travel.

In 1991, as part of the ongoing diversification of his business activities, Mr. Goyal took advantage of the opening of the Indian economy and the enunciation of the Open Skies Policy by the Government of India to set up Jet Airways for the operation of scheduled air services on domestic sectors in India. Jet Airways commenced commercial operations on May 05, 1993.

With his vast experience in the field of aviation, Mr. Goyal currently serves on the prestigious International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors for the year 2009-2010, having earlier served on the Board from 2008 – 2009 and 2004-2006.

Mr. Goyal is the recipient of several national and international awards, including:

• On August 6, 2010, Mr. Goyal received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI)
• Voted “International Entrepreneurs of the Year”, along with wife Anita Goyal, Executive Vice President- Revenue Management and Network Planning, Jet Airways by the readers of Asian Voice, the highest circulation newspaper among the Asian Community in the UK. Mr. Goyal received the award from the Rt. Hon Geoff Hoon MP, UK Secretary of State for Transport, at the UK House of Commons in February 27, 2009
• Honoured at the fourth edition of the prestigious CNBC TV18 India Business Leader Awards, in the ‘Taking India Abroad’ award category, at the Taj Lands End, Mumbai on January 22, 2009
• Accorded the Business Person of the Year award by UK Trade & Investment at the prestigious India Business Awards 2008, in Mumbai on September 9, 2008
• Awarded the prestigious “Man of the Year Award” by the Aviation Press Club (APC) at its 30th Anniversary on Wednesday, April 09, 2008, in Belgium. The Aviation Press Club is an influential club of Belgian Aviation Journalists
• Conferred with the “Travel Entrepreneur of the Year” award at the 19th annual TTG (Travel Trade Gazette) Travel Awards. The awards were presented at a glittering ceremony and gala dinner on Thursday October 25, 2007 at the Sofitel Centara Grand, Bangkok
• Accorded the prestigious TATA AIG – Lifetime Achievement Award at the Abacus-TAFI Awards ceremony organized during the TAFI (Travel Agents’ Federation of India) International Travel Convention 2007, on Saturday September 8, 2007 at the Sutera Harbour Resort in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
• Was presented with the first NDTV Profit Business Award 2006 by the honourable Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on behalf of Jet Airways, at a glittering function at Taj Palace Hotel on July 28, 2006. The award, in the aviation category, is to salute the men and women who fuel India’s journey to the forefront of the World Economy
• The first BML Munjal Award for Excellence in Learning & Development in the Private Sector category. Mr Goyal received the award from the Honourable Minister for Civil Aviation, Shri Praful Patel along with a citation at a special function at Hotel Maurya Sheraton, New Delhi on January 6, 2006
• Featured by Business Week as one of the five leaders from India in the July 2005 Asia Edition cover story- “Stars of Asia - 25 Leaders at The Forefront of Change.”
• ‘Aerospace Laurels’ for outstanding contribution in the field of Commercial Air Transport twice, in April 2000 and February 2004
• First Lifetime Achievement Award from The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) in December 2003
• ‘Outstanding Asian-Indian’ award for leadership and contribution to the global community given by the Indian American Centre for Political Awareness in November 2003
• ‘Distinguished Alumni Award-2000’ for meritorious and distinguished performance as an Entrepreneur’ in October 2000
• ‘Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Services’ from Ernst & Young in September 2000