Long-time Airnorth chief executive Michael Bridge has stepped down after 17 years leading the Australian regional carrier.
Bridge has been succeeded as chief executive by deputy chief executive Daniel Bowden, Airnorth said in a statement.
Airnorth said the leadership change was part of a planned transition after Bristow Helicopters Australia, an affiliate US-based Bristow Group, bought a controlling 85 per cent stake in the company in February 2015.
Bowden has been with Airnorth for six months, having come from the Bristow Group where he was working in finance and operational management roles in Australia.
Despite stepping down as chief executive, Bridge remained a shareholder and director of Airnorth. The 26-year veteran of the company was also have a business development role across both Airnorth and the wider Bristow group.
Airnorth had nine Embraer EMB-120 and Metro 23 turboprops and four Embraer E-170 regional jets in its fleet and provided both scheduled regular public transport flights and charter services in Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Timor-Leste.
It is also a Qantas codeshare partner.
