Cathay Pacific has announced the appointment of Mr Abhijit Abhyankar as the Regional Head of Customer Travel and Lifestyle for South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa (SAMEA). In his new position, Abhijit will oversee customer travel experiences, passenger sales, marketing communications, and lifestyle-focused initiatives across key markets, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.
With more than 20 years of experience across the aviation and hospitality industries, Abhijit brings extensive expertise in sales, marketing, and customer engagement to his new role. He has held several senior positions at Cathay Pacific, including Regional Head of People – SAMEA, Head of Marketing and Digital Sales – SAMEA, Regional Marketing Communications Manager – South Asia, and Area Sales Manager – Northern India. He also previously served as Country Manager – Africa and the Indian Ocean, based in Johannesburg.
Abhijit began his career in the hospitality sector, working with leading brands such as Ambassador Hotel, Le Meridien, and Holiday Inn, before moving into the aviation industry with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and later Air France–KLM. Since joining Cathay Pacific in 2009 as Corporate Sales Manager, he has played an instrumental role in shaping the airline’s commercial strategy and enhancing its customer experience across the region.
Operating from Cathay Pacific’s regional headquarters in Mumbai, Abhijit will lead efforts to deliver seamless and enriching travel experiences for customers while driving growth through strategic partnerships in lifestyle, retail, and digital engagement.