27-year airline industry veteran Zuks Ramasia will be assuming the role of CEO of the Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa (BARSA), effective 17 April 2020. Ramasia takes over from incumbent CEO June Crawford, whose term as CEO ends in April 2020, although she will continue to serve on the Board.
Ramasia, acting CEO of South African Airways whose term at the airline will end on 14 April 2020, also serves as the Chairperson of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) and as a Director on the Board of Aviation Co-ordination Services (ACS).
“It is my utmost pleasure to be part of BARSA and at the helm of offering a voice on behalf of the African and International airlines operating to and from the Republic of South Africa,” says Ramasia of her appointment. “I’m looking forward to ensuring member airlines are well-represented in all relevant forums where matters affecting airlines’ common interests are considered and deliberated – and, most importantly, leading BARSA’s contribution around the public discourse for sustainable industry development”.
BARSA is actively involved in various initiatives on behalf of airlines and is currently engaging on consultations on permission with ACSA and ATNS for the period 2021/22-2025/26. The worldwide aviation industry is currently working hard to deal with unprecedented conditions created by the prevalence of COVID-19. “BARSA will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders like NICD, ACSA, CAA and Department of Health, to name a few, to provide support that will enable member airlines to manage local and international travel in a coherent and collaborative fashion and get things back on an even keel as soon as the pandemic has been contained,” says Ramasia. “Coming from an airline background myself, I’m familiar with the behind-the-scenes work BARSA does in all aspects of the industry and I’m looking forward to being in the driver’s seat in regard to this work, on behalf of the airline industry”.
BARSA Chair Carla da Silva says the team is excited to start work with Zuks. “She has many years of experience and expertise in the aviation arena and I look forward to working with her and ensuring that the profile of BARSA and its involvement in the aviation arena continues to grow from strength to strength,” she says.
On the back of her extensive industry experience, Ramasia also holds a number of academic qualifications, including a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the Henley Business School, BA (Hons) English and Psychology, Human Resource Development from RAU, Diploma in Airline Operations from IATA and participated in the GIBS Leadership Development Programme.
