John Matthews: An Unconventional Route To The Top

John Matthews has established himself as a leading figure in private aviation, turning AirX into a business with an annual turnover of more than €150 million.

The lack of a clear route into the industry didn’t stop John Matthews pursuing his passion and immersing himself in the world of aviation. In his own words, he “lives and breathes” aviation and strongly believes that success is not determined by where you start, but by vision, determination, and the ability to lead people through challenging times.

This is especially true, John says, in the highly competitive world of private jet chartering, where success often hinges on “innovation, resilience, and a clear vision”. Reflecting on his own experiences and building AirX into one of Europe’s leading commercial charter businesses, he believes his formative years equipped him to understand the importance of meticulous planning, stringent safety standards, and customer satisfaction.

“I didn’t follow the conventional route”, John says, as he talks about his own career and his approach to leadership. For an industry that is perceived to be exclusive and out of reach for most people, John’s insight into the team he has built around him paints a different picture. He strongly believes that AirX’s success is a result of the culture he has worked so hard to establish, creating a familial feeling and providing opportunities to those from diverse backgrounds.

John firmly believes that the ability to excel in a job does not hinge on formal qualifications alone, but equally on motivation and grit. For AirX, this is exemplified by the number of its senior managers that started their careers through its apprenticeship program.

Perhaps this unconventional approach explains how John has built AirX’s fleet. Whilst his competitors purchase new aircraft, John identifies secondhand aircraft which are bought and upgraded to meet the high standards his clients expect. Unlike their competitors, AirX’s workforce has the skills to complete approximately 85 percent of fleet maintenance onsite. Combined, this allows the business to reduce costs and to boost operational efficiency even further.

John took on AirX in 2011. Under its previous owners, the business had accumulated €4 million in debt and three aircraft under repossession orders. The contrast today is significant. AirX’s business model has stood the test of time. When Covid-19 ground most travel to a halt overnight, AirX adapted. Instead of passengers, its A340 aircraft transported vital cargo internationally, which was vital to the pandemic response.

It is down to John’s leadership that AirX has proven to be a resilient and commercially successful business, generating revenue of more than €150 million last year.

For John, this is only the beginning. Looking to the future, he is determined to build on recent success and has ambitions to increase the size of AirX’s fleet, workforce and operational performance. This will help AirX to become the go-to private aviation company in Europe and the Middle East.