John McKenzie: Five decades of service
Meet John McKenzie, Airways International’s Digital Solutions Sales Director, who’s tenure has stood the test of time. From his roots in air traffic services to his commercial expertise, 2025 has seen John reach a 50-year milestone with Airways.
In this article, you’ll learn about John’s experience working in the industry over the past five decades, in New Zealand and the Middle East, and some of the changes and developments he has experienced.
You’ve been with Airways for 50 years – what a milestone! What was it that first attracted you to the air traffic management industry?
Back in 1975, my mother saw a job advertisement in the paper for Communications Officer.
Taking on this role unlocked many opportunities and experiences that I would’ve never foreseen. The 50 years following has seen me work in a variety of roles within Airways, based across New Zealand and in the Middle East.
A big attraction about this industry for me is working with both colleagues and customers, to deliver successful solutions. My current job is also made so much easier thanks to the fantastic products and services that we deliver through a team of capable, savvy professionals.
Of the various roles you’ve held in air traffic services over the years, is there one that really stands out for you?
A standout for me has to be my current role. I’ve learnt (or tried to learn) new languages, experienced different cultures and tried different cuisines – all while achieving success along the way.
Underpinning our work in the global environment is one critical aspect – relationships. In my mind, connections are one of the keys to success, and I am fortunate to have developed enduring relationships with many customers.
What are some of the most significant changes you’ve seen in the industry since you started your career in 1975?
The impact of technology has been hugely significant and has greatly improved service provision. There were no personal computers, mobile phones or even the internet when I started. Flight plans, meteorological data, NOTAMs and administration messages were all sent around the airports via a teletype system. This required a lot of human support and manual intervention – every air traffic control unit had a separate communications and flight planning office.
1987 saw Airways become the world’s first commercialised air navigation services provider (ANSP). One area we addressed early on was air traffic control recruitment, selection and training. As a result, we’ve been achieving a 95% air traffic control (ATC) training success rate for many years now.
Our journey was followed by other countries, and out of this came the commercial entity known today as Airways International. In addition to ATC selection and training our portfolio now includes consultancy, ATC simulators, procedure design and uncrewed traffic management (UTM).
What are some key milestones and achievements you’ve accomplished in your career over the past 50 years?
I obtained my Aerodrome Flight Information Rating validation at Queenstown Airport in 1979. In the years following I worked at flight services units throughout New Zealand, and the Area Control Centres at Wellington and Christchurch. Later in 1996 I was appointed as Sector Manager and spent eight years managing an operational sector in the Christchurch air traffic control centre.
In 2001 I received the New Zealand Director of Civil Aviation Award and moved to Airways International – moving from the operational air traffic services environment into a commercial landscape to undertake my sales ambitions.
A big milestone for me in the commercial space was in 2010, when we began training ATC students from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in Saudi Arabia. This was a significant, enduring achievement, with over 200 GACA students graduating after training with us.
Later in 2014, I moved from New Zealand to Dubai to undertake a role as Regional Director of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. I then spent the next seven years working in-country, balancing work in different time zones and immersing myself in different cultures.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in this industry?
The aviation industry is niche and highly rewarding. The industry is totally safety focussed. You need to be patient and keep an open mind. Most importantly, take time to foster genuine relationships while enjoying the journey.
What’s one important lesson you’ve learned during your career?
From a sales perspective, listen, ask open questions. If you are going about your job the right way, your client should be talking more than you.
You’ve become an expert in the field of uncrewed traffic management through AirShare, Airways’ UTM solution. What challenges do you foresee for the future when it comes to integration of drones into our airspace?
I still wouldn’t call myself an expert, but I am on a steep learning curve in an ever-evolving industry. The clear overarching challenge is to find a solution to accommodate an increasing number of drone operations alongside crewed aircraft.
Through the AirShare UTM system, we are currently providing this but on a much smaller scale than what we predict in the future. Another associated major challenge is recovering costs to provide the solution. Watch this space.