Our Vision, Your Results
Founded in 2001, AirTrav is a respected name in aviation consulting. Based in Toronto, Canada, AirTrav provides advisory services worldwide.
With deep knowledge across multiple sectors, AirTrav advises on most key industry issues, working with airlines, airports, governments, investors, law firms, regulators and trade associations. We have also been retained by maritime and roadhaul operators, pipeline companies and commercial developers. AirTrav has proven, extensive experience in commercial, financial, fuel management, operational and regulatory domains.
While AirTrav also partners with large, global firms, our boutique position helps us deliver focused, timely services. Through our collaborative approach, we facilitate customer engagement at every step, ensuring alignment of expectations and delivery of effective results. Welcome to AirTrav!
Our Founder
Robert Kokonis – President & Managing Director
Robert J. Kokonis established AirTrav in 2001 to backstop a planned Canada-USA LCC. Robert has 35 years of progressively senior experience, acquired with major airlines and travel industry participants such as Air Canada, Finnair, Royal Jordanian, Carlson Wagonlit Travel and Worldspan (now part of Travelport). He also headed travel technology company CharterHub and was involved with several start-ups and exit transactions. Consulting full-time since 2005, Robert has participated in numerous successful engagements worldwide, consults at a senior executive level and sits on several Advisory Boards. He is in high demand for A-list media commentary and for speeches at major aviation and travel industry conferences.
Our People
AirTrav deploys highly experienced experts who possess strong sectoral and consulting credentials to fulfill our diverse project missions. Our core team is listed here, but if you have deep expertise in aviation and would like to work with us as a project subject matter expert, please let us know.
Chris Hudson – Principal Consultant Operations & Project Director
Chris Hudson is an airline industry professional based near London, England. He has substantial understanding of the air transport industry from his 37 years of industry experience. Since 2015, Chris has provided his expertise to AirTrav on flight operations, airport ground & cargo operations, flight planning, safety, and GSE operations. He acts as project director on most engagements. Chris also helps AirTrav provide due diligence on airline operations for private equity firms on M&A transactions and start-ups. He has been involved in performance reviews, crew management restructures, and airline assessments worldwide, along with MRO studies for airports. He has placed numerous business jets on AOCs in the Americas & Europe, secured ACMI/wet lease aircraft from well-known global charterers, and has assessed operators on behalf of aircraft owners, FI’s, and charterers. This has involved risk assessments in Flight Operations, Ground Handling, Safety and Quality and corporate structure ensuring safety standards and regulations set by international bodies such as ICAO, EASA, and the FAA are being met.
Hanspeter Baserga – Senior Associate Consultant, Fleet & MRO
Based near Zurich, Switzerland, Hanspeter Baserga is a highly experienced aircraft leasing, purchasing and maintenance specialist with 36 years in the aviation industry. Hanspeter started his career as a mechanic with Swissair in 1987, and held several key positions at Swissair and leasing company Flightlease, which was owning and managing a portfolio of aircraft leased to airlines around the globe. He also worked with SR Technics, a leading global MRO provider. Since 2015, Hanspeter has provided his consulting expertise to AirTrav Inc. on aircraft leasing, fleet and maintenance programs, and M&A due diligence for customers in Canada and around the globe.
Chris Lowe – Senior Associate Economist & Consultant
Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Chris Lowe is a senior economist who has delivered numerous complex airport and airline economic impact assessments for AirTrav. He has defended impact studies up to the Supreme Court of Canada level.
Chris holds over 36 years of experience in economist, strategy, project evaluation and development planning in the aviation, MRO, marine, rail, and ICI sectors. He provides specialist advice and project management services on complex, multi-disciplinary assignments, including more than 500 projects in North America, Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and South America.
Nick Papatheodorakos – Senior Associate Consultant, Aircraft Maintenance
Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Nick Papatheodorakos is a seasoned Aviation Consultant with over 30 years of international experience. He specializes in optimizing aircraft maintenance processes and aligning them with commercial and strategic goals. Nick has successfully secured strategic aerospace contracts and managed programs within the maintenance repair sector. He is dedicated to enhancing operational effectiveness while maintaining quality, fostering teamwork, leveraging a broad network of contacts, and demonstrating strong leadership and problem-solving skills. Of his many industry roles, Nick has directed maintenance processes at Air Canada, two major US carriers, a major Australian carrier, and a major Brazilian carrier; streamlined heavy maintenance processes at MROs in Canada and Central America; and established a component distribution centre at JFK airport as part of a JV between two global MROs.
Sherman J. Adams – Legal Counsel
Sherman J. Adams has 30 years of legal and corporate experience in Canada. He graduated with a LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Bar in 1996. An expert in contract negotiations, Sherman’s Senior Legal Counsel work has ranged from a boutique law firm dealing with aviation accidents to The Bank of Nova Scotia. He has also acted as General Counsel.
Tuija A. Anttonen – Industry Relations and Executive Assistant
Tuija A. Anttonen has over 20 years of international experience in the hospitality and travel sectors. With AirTrav since 2005, Tuija coordinates administrative matters for clients, arranges our media and conference appearances, and manages contractor and legal agreement matters.