Ed Wegel
Comment: Many sources are routine profiles or company-related. Use sources that show enough independent coverage of the subject. Accesscrawl (talk) 12:10, 7 August 2026 (UTC)
| Ed Wegel | |
|---|---|
| Born | Edward Joseph Wegel March 26, 1958 Copiague, New York, U.S. |
| 🏳️ Citizenship | American |
| 🏫 Education | United States Military Academy (BS) University of Colorado Boulder (MBA) |
| 💼 Occupation | Aviation executive, entrepreneur |
| 📆 Years active | 1980–present |
| Known for | Founding Global Crossing Airlines Re-launching Eastern Air Lines Co-founding AVi8 Airways |
| Title | Managing Partner of AVi8 Air Capital Former Chairman & CEO of Global Crossing Airlines Former President & CEO of Eastern Air Lines |
Edward Joseph Wegel (born March 26, 1958) is an American aviation executive, airline founder, and former United States Army officer.[1][2] He has served as chief executive officer and board member for several commercial airlines, aircraft leasing ventures, and aviation investment firms, including Global Crossing Airlines, Eastern Air Lines, Atlantic Coast Airlines, and AVi8 Air Capital.[3][4][5]
Early life and education
Wegel was born in Copiague, New York, and grew up in Rockland County, New York.[1] In July 1976, he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating on May 28, 1980, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and National Security Studies.[1] He subsequently earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance from the University of Colorado Boulder in June 1982.[1]
Military service
Upon graduation from West Point in 1980, Wegel was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Armor Branch of the U.S. Army.[1] After completing the Armor Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky, he served with the 6th Battalion, 32nd Armor Regiment, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado.[1] He later served with the 2nd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 2nd Armored Division in West Germany.[1] Wegel left active duty in 1982 and served two years in the United States Army Reserve.[1]
Corporate career
Early career and finance (1985–1995)
Wegel entered commercial aviation in 1985 as Executive Assistant to the Chairman and CEO of Eastern Air Lines.[1] He later joined Pan American World Airways in New York as Director of Operations, overseeing Pan Am Shuttle and Pan Am Express.[1]
Following his tenure at Pan Am, Wegel joined Lehman Brothers in New York, where he managed the firm's aircraft leasing division.[1] In this role, he structured aircraft leases for major carriers including Pan Am, USAir, TWA, and Delta Air Lines. During this period, he represented Lehman Brothers as a director on the board of Polaris Industries and managed over $1 billion in limited partnership investments.[1][6][7][8]
Airline establishment and restructurings (1991–2008)
In 1991, Wegel co-founded Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) at Dulles International Airport, operating as a United Express regional carrier.[1] He secured over $40 million in initial capital, arranged launch orders for the British Aerospace Jetstream 41, and served on the board of directors. He led ACA's initial public offering in June 1993, raising $25 million.[1]
In 1995, Wegel managed the privatization of Trinidad and Tobago flag carrier BWIA West Indies Airways.[1] Serving as President, he raised capital for the acquisition, established strategic alliances with British Airways and American Airlines, and oversaw the carrier's transition to profitable operations.[1]
In 1997, Wegel led the initial business plan development for the relaunch of People Express Airlines at John F. Kennedy International Airport, an operational blueprint that later contributed to the founding model of JetBlue.[1]
In 1998, he negotiated an order for 80 Embraer 135/145 regional jets and led the acquisition of Chautauqua Airlines on behalf of a private equity group, serving as CEO during its integration into the US Airways Express network.[1] Between 1999 and 2003, Wegel participated in corporate restructurings, including operations for Tower Air and the bankruptcy acquisition of Midway Airlines.[1]
Relaunch of Eastern Air Lines and GlobalX (2008–2024)
In 2008, Wegel acquired the intellectual property rights of Eastern Air Lines (which had ceased operations in 1991) and served as President and CEO of the resurrected carrier from 2014.[1] Under his management, the carrier received Certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), operating a fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft.[1]
In 2017, Wegel established AVi8 Air Capital, an aircraft leasing and advisory firm.[1] In 2019, he founded Global Crossing Airlines (dba GlobalX), a U.S. FAR Part 121 domestic, flag, and supplemental charter airline operating Airbus A320 family aircraft.[1][9] GlobalX received its FAA operating certificate in 2021, providing passenger and cargo ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance) charter services across North America, the Caribbean, and Latin America.[1][10][11] Wegel served as Chairman and CEO of GlobalX until his resignation in early 2024.[12][13]
AVi8 Airways and other ventures (2024–present)
Following his departure from GlobalX, Wegel collaborated with former Bamboo Airways executive Eric Dang to launch AVi8 Airways in Cambodia.[5][14] The enterprise was structured to operate as an ACMI charter platform serving the Southeast Asia regional market.[5] He has also been involved in launching new airline initiatives such as Zoom Airline.[15][14]
Personal life
Wegel married his wife, Susan, in November 1980.[1] They have two children.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 "Speaker Profile: Ed Wegel". Cargo Facts Events. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ "Ed Wegel Photos and Images". Getty Images. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ "Legends of Aviation: Ed Wegel". Brookfield Aviation. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ "CAPA Speaker Profile: Edward Wegel". CAPA Events. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Cambodia's AVi8 Airways eyes mid-2Q27 ACMI launch". ch-aviation. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ "Executive Profile: Edward Joseph Wegel". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ "Edward J. Wegel Insider Trades". Benzinga. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ "Edward Wegel Insider Trading". MarketScreener. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ "SPAC-led airline entrepreneur Ed Wegel goes public". Aviation Week. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ "Ed Wegel, Global Crossing Airlines CEO Full Remarks". 1011now. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ "Global Crossing Airlines one of few to make Israel cargo flights". FreightWaves. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ "GlobalX seeking new chief executive following Ed Wegel's resignation". FlightGlobal. 2024-02-01. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ "Startup cargo airline 7Air changes CEO". FreightWaves. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "AVi8 CEO launches Zoom Airlines". Airways Magazine. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ "Ed Wegel launches new airline project Zoom". AeroTime. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:American aviation executives Category:United States Army officers Category:United States Military Academy alumni Category:University of Colorado Boulder alumni Category:People from Suffolk County, New York
This article "Ed Wegel" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Ed Wegel. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
