Industry Analysis
Safran CEO Leads French Aerospace Lobby Amid Industry Shifts
Olivier Andriès appointed GIFAS president to address supply chain resilience, decarbonization, and talent development in France’s €77.7B aerospace sector.
Safran CEO Olivier Andriès Elected President of French Aerospace Lobby GIFAS
On July 10, 2025, Olivier Andriès, the CEO of Safran, was appointed as the new president of the Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales (GIFAS), succeeding Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. This leadership change at the helm of France’s aerospace industry lobby is more than ceremonial, it reflects a strategic shift in priorities at a time when the global aerospace sector faces unprecedented challenges and opportunities.
GIFAS represents a cornerstone of France’s industrial strength, encompassing over 500 companies and generating €77.7 billion in revenue in 2024, with 82% derived from exports. With Andriès at the helm, the organization is poised to navigate critical issues such as supply chain resilience, decarbonization, and talent acquisition amid global geopolitical and economic shifts.
This article explores the significance of Andriès’ appointment, the structure and role of GIFAS, his professional background, and the strategic challenges and opportunities he will face during his presidency.
Background on GIFAS and Its Role in the Aerospace Industry
Founded in 1908, GIFAS (Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales) is the French aerospace industries association that serves as a unifying body for companies involved in civil and defense aviation, space, and related sectors. Its 519 members include major players such as Airbus, Dassault Aviation, Thales, MBDA, and Safran, along with hundreds of SMEs and startups.
GIFAS plays a multifaceted role. It acts as a policy advocate, representing industry interests to the French government and European Union. It also promotes global visibility for French aerospace, notably through organizing the Paris Air Show, one of the world’s largest aviation events. Additionally, it supports innovation, training, and industrial cooperation across the sector.
The presidency of GIFAS is traditionally held by the CEO of a leading aerospace firm. Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, held the position from 2021 until 2025, focusing on post-COVID recovery and supply chain stabilization. Andriès’ election continues this tradition of experienced industrial leadership at the top of the organization.
GIFAS’ Internal Structure and Strategic Objectives
GIFAS comprises several commissions and working groups that focus on topics such as research and technology, international trade, defense, and environmental sustainability. These groups help shape policy recommendations and industry standards.
One of its key functions is to facilitate collaboration across the supply chain, ensuring that SMEs and startups can integrate into larger industrial programs. This is crucial in a sector where innovation often depends on the agility of smaller firms and the scale of larger manufacturers.
GIFAS also supports educational initiatives, such as promoting aerospace careers among young people and funding training programs to address skill shortages, an area that Andriès has identified as a top priority.
Olivier Andriès: A Profile in Leadership
Olivier Andriès brings a unique blend of public sector experience and corporate leadership to his new role. A graduate of the prestigious École Polytechnique and École des Mines de Paris, he began his career in the French Ministry of Finance, where he oversaw aerospace and defense industrial policy.
He later joined Airbus, where he led strategy and widebody aircraft programs, before moving to Safran in 2008. Since becoming CEO of Safran in 2021, Andriès has overseen a period of strong growth. In 2024, Safran reported record revenues of €27.3 billion and recurring operating income of €4.1 billion, reflecting a 30.1% year-on-year increase.
Andriès has also been a strong proponent of sustainable aviation. Under his leadership, Safran has invested heavily in hydrogen propulsion and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), while maintaining a pragmatic stance on the pace and scope of decarbonization in aviation.
“We must ensure a significant and viable increase in production in a context of rearmament and strengthening sovereignty, ramp up production, prepare the future of aviation, and attract young people.” — Olivier Andriès
Strategic Challenges Facing GIFAS Under Andriès
Scaling Production Amid Global Rearmament
The global aerospace industry is experiencing a resurgence in defense spending, driven by geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and the Middle East. France is no exception. One of Andriès’ top priorities is to scale up production to meet both civil and military demands while maintaining cost competitiveness.
This task is complicated by ongoing supply chain constraints. According to outgoing GIFAS president Guillaume Faury, productivity in the French aerospace sector has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, and recovery could take years. Addressing these bottlenecks will be crucial to meeting delivery timelines and maintaining export commitments.
GIFAS will likely play a coordinating role in this effort, working with suppliers and government agencies to streamline procurement, logistics, and certification processes.
Decarbonization and Technological Innovation
Environmental sustainability remains a pressing concern. The European Union’s “Fit for 55” initiative mandates a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, putting pressure on aerospace manufacturers to innovate rapidly.
Safran has taken a leading role in this area, developing hydrogen propulsion systems and investing in SAF infrastructure. However, Andriès has emphasized that hydrogen is not a universal solution and must be part of a broader, more diversified strategy.
GIFAS under his leadership is expected to push for increased public funding for R&D, as well as regulatory frameworks that support the scaling of green technologies without compromising safety or performance.
Workforce Development and Talent Attraction
Another major challenge is the recruitment and training of skilled workers. The aerospace sector in France employs over 222,000 people, but many companies report difficulties in hiring engineers, technicians, and digital specialists.
Andriès has made it clear that attracting young talent is a top priority. Initiatives may include partnerships with universities, apprenticeship programs, and campaigns to raise awareness about aerospace careers among students.
GIFAS also supports diversity and inclusion initiatives, recognizing that a broader talent pool is essential for innovation and competitiveness in the global market.
Global Context and Industry Outlook
France’s aerospace sector is deeply integrated into global supply chains and collaborative research programs. As such, GIFAS must navigate complex international dynamics, including trade regulations, export controls, and joint ventures with foreign partners.
The push for supply chain sovereignty has gained momentum, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising geopolitical tensions. GIFAS advocates for strengthening European capabilities in critical areas such as avionics, propulsion, and materials science.
At the same time, the industry must remain open to international collaboration. Programs like the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), jointly developed by France, Germany, and Spain, illustrate the potential and complexity of multinational aerospace projects.
“Post-COVID productivity recovery requires years of investment in skills and digitalization. Collaboration is our lifeline.” — Guillaume Faury
Conclusion
Olivier Andriès’ appointment as president of GIFAS marks a pivotal moment for the French aerospace sector. With a proven track record at Safran and deep experience in both public and private sectors, he is well-positioned to guide the industry through a period of transformation.
From scaling production and enhancing supply chain resilience to driving sustainability and workforce development, the challenges are significant. However, with coordinated leadership and strategic investment, GIFAS under Andriès could play a central role in shaping the future of aerospace in France and beyond.
FAQ
Who is Olivier Andriès?
Olivier Andriès is the CEO of Safran and was elected president of GIFAS in July 2025. He has a background in engineering and public policy and has held leadership roles at Airbus and the French Ministry of Finance.
What is GIFAS?
GIFAS is the French Aerospace Industries Association, representing over 500 companies involved in civil and defense aviation, space, and related sectors. It advocates for industry interests and supports innovation, training, and international promotion.
What are the key challenges for the French aerospace industry?
Major challenges include supply chain disruptions, the need for decarbonization, talent shortages, and adapting to increased global defense spending.
Sources
Photo Credit: raksha-anirveda
Industry Analysis
Istanbul Aviation Forum 2027 to Focus on AI, MRO and Airport Capacity
The Istanbul Aviation Forum, April 27–28, 2027, expects 800+ attendees and 10 panels on AI, MRO, airport capacity and the industry outlook to 2040.
The Istanbul Aviation Forum will take place on April 27–28, 2027, in Istanbul, Türkiye, bringing airlines, airports, maintenance providers, manufacturers, lessors and solution providers together for two days of panel discussions, an exhibition and pre-arranged business meetings. The organiser, Aviovis Group, expects more than 800 attendees, over 70 speakers and more than 50 exhibitors, with 10 panel discussions on the programme.
Aviovis Group, based in Vilnius, Lithuania, also organises the Global Aviation Conference, whose Frankfurt edition took place on September 29–30, 2026. AirPro News is a media partner of the Istanbul forum, as it was for the Frankfurt conference.
A programme built around operations
The conference agenda is organised into nine topic areas, according to the event website. They run from the long-term industry outlook and the path to net zero, through airline operational excellence and the use of AI, data and cybersecurity, to aircraft lifecycle, MRO and aftermarket strategies. The remaining areas cover airport infrastructure and efficiency, workforce, safety and resilience, airline strategy and competition, and the passenger experience “from cabin to connection”.
Those themes are carried into the 10 panel discussions, where senior executives from across the value chain are set to share how their own operations are handling them. The panels listed on the forum’s website are:
- Digital Aviation: How Airlines & Airports Are Transforming Operations
- AI in Action: From Experimentation to Real-World Impact
- Next-Generation MRO: Automation, Robotics & the Smart Hangar
- Keeping Fleets Flying: Maintenance, Supply Chain & Procurement Under Pressure
- Future of Air Travel: What Will Aviation Look Like Beyond 2040?
- Biggest Win, Biggest Mistake: Lessons From Aviation Leaders
- Airports of Tomorrow: Capacity, Technology & Infrastructure
- The Passenger Experience Revolution: How Airlines & Airports Are Redefining the Journey
- The Aviation Workforce Challenge: Recruitment, Training & Retention
- Aviation Safety & Compliance: Navigating Risk, Regulation & Operational Change
Two of the ten panels are dedicated to maintenance: one on automation, robotics and the “smart hangar”, and one on keeping fleets flying while maintenance, supply chain and procurement remain under pressure. The aftermarket was also a central theme of the Frankfurt conference’s agenda in September.
Exhibition, matchmaking and awards
Alongside the conference, the exhibition area will host more than 50 exhibitors, where MROs, OEMs, suppliers and service providers will present their technologies, products and services. The organiser arranges direct business meetings with pre-selected attendees at exhibitors’ stands, and a matchmaking app lets delegates identify relevant contacts and book meetings before and during the event. Delegate registration includes lunch, refreshments and an invitation to the forum’s cocktail party.
Nominations are open for the forum’s awards in 10 categories: Sustainable Aviation Technology, Aviation Digital Transformation, Aviation AI Innovation, MRO & Aftermarket Excellence, Passenger Experience Innovation, Smart Airport Solution, Crew & Workforce Innovation, Future-Ready Airport, Airline Sustainability Leadership and Aviation Industry Excellence.
Why Istanbul
The choice of city puts the forum in a fast-growing market. Türkiye’s airports handled a record 247.16 million passengers in 2025, up 7.1% on 2024, according to figures announced by Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, and Istanbul is the home base of Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines.
The forum also lands in a busy spring for aviation events in the country. Routes Europe 2027 is scheduled for April 20–22 in Antalya, the week before. Both events are listed in the AirPro News Aviation & Aerospace Events Calendar 2026–2027.
Registration, exhibition and sponsorship details are available on the Istanbul Aviation Forum website.
Photo Credit: Istanbul Aviation Forum
Commercial Aviation
Global Aviation Conference Frankfurt 2026 Opens with 600 Senior Executives and 11 Panels on the Industry’s Hardest Questions
Global Aviation Conference Frankfurt 2026 opens at the Frankfurt Marriott Hotel on 29–30 September with 600+ senior executives, 50+ speakers and eleven executive panels on SAF, AI in operations, the aftermarket squeeze, fleet financing and the 2040 outlook. Keynote by ITA Airways CEO Joerg Michael Eberhart.
More than 600 senior executives from airlines, airports, lessors, MROs and OEMs are gathering at the Frankfurt Marriott Hotel on 29–30 September for the Global Aviation Conference Frankfurt 2026, a two-day forum built around eleven executive panels on the operational, financial and strategic pressures reshaping air transport.
Organised by Aviovis Group and chaired by Gabriel Hanot of GH Aviation Consulting, the conference brings together more than 50 speakers and over 40 exhibiting companies in the city’s Westend district. Lufthansa Technik and TestSolutions are the event’s Gold Sponsors. Rather than focusing on a single segment, the programme deliberately spans the whole value chain, from sustainable fuel and aircraft finance to the parts and engine aftermarket and the passenger experience.
Keynote from ITA Airways, a spotlight on Cyprus Airways
The keynote address is delivered by Joerg Michael Eberhart, Chief Executive of ITA Airways, whose carrier is completing its integration into the Lufthansa Group. Thanos Pascalis, CEO of Cyprus Airways, follows with a dedicated presentation on the island carrier’s growth strategy.
Panellists are drawn from Lufthansa Group, Qatar Airways, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, Finnair, TAP Air Portugal, Alaska Airlines, LATAM Airlines, Ryanair, easyJet, Ethiopian Airlines, Aer Lingus and WestJet on the airline side; Fraport, Munich Airport, Zurich Airport and Athens International Airport for the airports; lessors Avolon and SMBC Aviation Capital; and engine makers Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney, among others. Pegasus Airlines and SunExpress add to a notable Turkish presence, with AJet attending as a participant.
Eleven panels, one agenda: execution
The panel line-up reads like a checklist of the questions keeping airline and MRO boards awake this year:
- Sustainability in Aviation: The SAF Reality Check — supply, price and the gap between mandates and molecules
- Digitalization and AI in Airline Operations — from data foundations to real-world return on investment
- The Aviation Aftermarket Under Pressure — parts, engines and commercial risk
- Maintenance Matters — ensuring reliability across today’s fleets
- The Evolving Role of Airports — hubs of innovation
- Biggest Win and Biggest Mistake — executives on the decisions that defined their year
- Crew Welfare and Workforce Management
- Innovations in Customer Experience: Beyond the Cabin
- The Future of Air Travel — trends and predictions for 2040
- Financing the Future Fleet — leasing, capital and risk
- Global Aviation Outlook — navigating geopolitical dynamics
The aftermarket and maintenance sessions land at a moment when engine shop-visit backlogs, parts lead times and the retirement profile of the CFM56 and V2500 fleets are dictating airline capacity as much as new-aircraft deliveries are. The SAF panel arrives a year into the ReFuelEU mandate, with European uplift running ahead of the 2 per cent floor but the 2030 step-up still looking expensive.
Built for meetings as much as for sessions
Alongside the stage programme, the organisers have set up an exhibition and networking area and a matchmaking platform that lets delegates pre-schedule one-to-one meetings with suppliers, partners and customers. Day one closes with a cocktail reception. Attendance is curated towards senior decision-makers, which the organisers say keeps conversations commercial rather than promotional.
Practical details
- When: Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 September 2026
- Where: Frankfurt Marriott Hotel, Hamburger Allee 2, 60486 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Organiser: Aviovis Group
- Programme and registration: globalaviationconference.com
AirPro News is an official media partner of the Global Aviation Conference Frankfurt 2026.
Industry Analysis
HALO AirFinance Prices $390M Inaugural Aviation Loan ABS
HALO AirFinance priced its $390.2M inaugural aviation loan ABS 4x oversubscribed, backed by 33 loans across 14 jurisdictions.
HALO AirFinance priced its inaugural aviation loan asset-backed securitization (ABS) at $390.2 million, achieving an oversubscription rate of more than four times the offering size. The transaction, named HALO AirFinance 2026-1 (HALOAN 2026-1), secured the tightest spread for an AA-rated senior tranche from a first-time aviation loan issuer.
Announced in a press release on August 12, 2026, the pricing took place on August 6, 2026. HALO AirFinance operates as a joint venture between GA Telesis, LLC and Tokyo Century Corporation. The successful issuance establishes a new capital markets execution platform for the venture to fund its aviation lending activities.
Portfolio composition and tranche structure
The HALOAN 2026-1 notes are backed by a portfolio of 33 aviation loans with an aggregate remaining balance of $427.2 million. The loans feature a weighted average remaining term of 3.6 years.
The underlying assets securing the loans include 14 narrowbody Commercial-Aircraft, two widebody aircraft, two freighter aircraft, and 15 aircraft engines. These assets are utilized by 21 operators across 14 jurisdictions. Excluding the engines, the weighted average age of the aircraft is 15.6 years. The legal final maturity date for the notes is set for August 2041.
The $390.2 million issuance is divided into four tranches, rated by Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA):
- Class A Notes: $295.37 million, rated AA
- Class B Notes: $35.67 million, rated A
- Class C Notes: $28.62 million, rated BBB
- Class D Notes: $30.54 million, rated BB-
Market reception and advisory roles
The heavy oversubscription indicates robust investor appetite for aviation-backed debt. Citi acted as the sole structuring agent and lead bookrunner for the transaction, with Mizuho and Citizens serving as joint bookrunners.
“This milestone transaction marks an important step in HALO’s growth Strategy and confirms strong investor confidence in our platform, demonstrated by the considerable oversubscription for the notes, against challenging and volatile market conditions,” said Marc Cho, Co-Head and Managing Director of HALO AirFinance.
Takamasa Marito, Co-Head of HALO AirFinance and Managing Director of Tokyo Century Corporation, noted that the transaction reflects the strength of the platform built by the two parent companies. He added that the joint venture plans to return to the capital markets to provide additional financing solutions for Airlines, lessors, and investors.
Other entities involved in the transaction include Vedder Price as issuer counsel, Milbank as underwriter counsel, Phoenix American Financial Services, Inc. as the managing agent, and UMB Bank, NA serving as the trustee.
AirPro News analysis
The successful pricing of HALOAN 2026-1 demonstrates that institutional investors remain highly receptive to aviation debt, particularly when structured by established industry players. Achieving the tightest spread for an inaugural AA-rated senior tranche in this asset class suggests that the market views the GA Telesis and Tokyo Century joint venture as a mature, lower-risk platform, despite this being its first asset-backed securitization. We expect this strong reception will encourage HALO AirFinance to utilize the ABS market as a primary funding mechanism for future loan portfolio growth.
Sources: GA Telesis
Photo Credit: GA Telesis
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