Business

High flier Chris honoured for 'pioneer approach' to aviation

Gail Bell talks to seasoned high flier Chris Browne to finds out why she's just bought a new £128 million jetliner

Chris Browne, chief operations officer TUI Aviation, in animated mode on board the new Thomson 787 Dreamliner. Pic Robbie Reynolds
Chris Browne, chief operations officer TUI Aviation, in animated mode on board the new Thomson 787 Dreamliner. Pic Robbie Reynolds Chris Browne, chief operations officer TUI Aviation, in animated mode on board the new Thomson 787 Dreamliner. Pic Robbie Reynolds

SHE is well known for her love of flying, fashion and shopping.

But even the most eye-wateringly expensive designer outfit will never come close to the cost of Chris Browne's latest acquisition - a shiny new state-of-the-art jet worth a cool £128 million.

TUI Aviation's chief operating officer is still flying high on the after-buzz of her star purchase, and speaking over the chatter at 41,000 feet during the recent inaugural round-Ireland flight of the "revolutionary" Thomson Airways Dreamliner 787, her passion for the aircraft was as unmistakable as her Co Tyrone accent.

Although a seasoned high flier responsible for 62 aircraft and a 5,000-strong team, the down-to-earth Strabane woman - who this month accepted an honorary Doctor of Science degree at Cranfield University in Bedford for her "pioneer approach" to aviation - remains firmly connected to her roots.

Apart from "honest hard work" she believes that listening to customers is key to business success - an approach which undoubtedly contributed to a meteoric rise through the echelons of the travel industry and led to her becoming Iberia Airlines first female manager - and the youngest at the age of 30.

Now in her fifties - but just as glamorous in neon pink courts with matching coat slung over a plain black dress - Browne is as ebullient as when she left Queen's University over 30 years ago with a degree in Spanish (with French and Portuguese) in one hand an a passport to adventure in the other.

"I didn't really have a career plan when I arrived in London after graduating, but my love of languages has definitely helped me in the travel industry," she said.

"I don't think it's essential to learn a new language when you're going into a global role but it does help. What really impresses me wherever I travel for work is the standard of English in other countries - they're so proficient. And when I speak Spanish, I don't have my Irish accent, which seems to amuse people."

For someone awarded an OBE in the 2013 New Year’s Honour’s list, an honorary Doctor of Science for management leadership from Ulster University (2011) and membership into the British Travel Industry Hall of Fame last year, the Browne lack of ego is infinitely refreshing.

"I think there is a distinct difference between being confident and being over-confident, which can border on arrogance, and I don't think that wins you many friends," she reasons. "I might like my high heels, but my feet are always firmly on the ground.

"Also, I know what it's like to be broke and I know what if feels like when a close family member is diagnosed with cancer, so I like to think I have a proper perspective on what priorities should be in life.

"I come from a typical hard-working Irish family and although we hadn't much money growing up, there was always a lot of love. And that stays with you, no matter how your career takes off."

After joining First Choice in 1999, Chris established Travel Choice Direct before becoming managing director of Retail and Direct - Travel Choice and then heading up the group's airline, Air2000 - with the somewhat ambitious brief to "turn it around".

Set against the turbulent back drop of the 9/11 atrocities in the US, this proved a challenging task, but she managed to re-shaped the fleet around the needs of the tour operation, ultimately re-branding the airline to First Choice Airways and returning the business to profit.

Some years later she found herself in the middle of further tricky manoeuvres, re-branding Air2000 to First Choice Airways, followed by the merger of Thomsonfly and First Choice Airways to Thomson Airways - a feat she accomplished in the space of nine months.

But despite such 'streamlining' successes, she maintains buying the new fuel-efficient Dreamliner (there are now nine in the Irish fleet) has been the zenith of her career to date - with sleepless nights over the aircraft's early problems with lithium-ion batteries (almost) a distant memory.

"That was, without a doubt, the most turbulent part of the Dreamliner journey for me as safety concerns grounded the entire Boeing fleet in 2013," she recalled. "But, coming from Strabane, I have a fighting spirit and we just worked out way through it."

When not up in the air, her second favourite mode of transport is sailing on her boat in Scotland where she is currently based.

"My husband I go sailing and it makes me focus on the physical task at hand. It’s very meditative and the ultimate way to switch off. When I'm on a boat I don't worry about what's happening in the skies above - apart from the weather."

Unsurprisingly, the best piece of advice she can offer is "always be yourself and just go for it".

"Many people thought I was off my rocker when I put in the first order for the Dreamliner," she admitted.

"But I had a belief that this aircraft, with its greater seat pitch, modern touch screen entertainment system and mood lighting, would bring back a new 'golden age' of air travel.

"It has put glamour as well as comfort and efficiency back into flying and I am happy with that."