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CEO OF SEA PRIME — THE MANAGING COMPANY FOR BUSINESS AVIATION TERMINALS IN BOTH AIRPORTS OF MILAN — CHIARA DORIGOTTI TOLD TOP FLIGHT HOW PANDEMIC INFLUENCED THE TRAFFIC , IS BUSINESS AVIATION ON THE WINNING SIDE AND WHAT THE INDUSTRY SHOULD EXPECT IN THE NEAREST FUTURE .
What were your first steps in business ? Were you ever connected to aviation ?
After a degree in business administration , I have started my career in the investment banking industry in London and Paris to then move to corporate finance and investor relations . This is how I started working in the aviation sector , more than 10 years ago now .
How would you describe your work ? What inspires you ? What are your main work tasks ?
My work is challenging and interesting at the same time . I enjoy managing “ luxury airports ”, as stated in our payoff . This means that while we need to implement the thorough organization and compliance required by airport management , we are also focused on developing services and infrastructures tailored for the luxury industry .
What is special about working in private aviation for you ?
Private aviation is a community where we share values and objectives across the border . I am a member of the EBAA advocacy committee , where I have the chance to work alongside other industry professionals — OEMs , airport managers , operators — all aiming to improve safety , service levels and respond to the key issues that the aviation industry is facing .
People used to think of aviation and private aviation as of male industries . Do you see a lot of women as top managers in this business ? Is it hard being a woman in this business ?
To date , I do not see many women in top-management position ; the gender and pay gap are still there . However , things are improving , especially among the new generations . Sometimes being a woman can be challenging , but it can also be an advantage : I do believe that women contribute to the diversity which every business need ; at the end of the day , 50 % of our customers are women .
Italy is starting to open its boarders to business travellers from Russia and other countries . Has the traffic in SEA Prime FBO in Milan changed after that ? Don ’ t you notice more business jets coming ?
In 2021 , SEA Prime has managed a record 27,300 business aviation movements at Linate and Malpensa , with peaks of over 160 daily movements , + 74 % compared to 2020 — higher than both the Italian average (+ 58 %) and the European one (+ 37 %) — and + 11 % compared to 2019 . Two-thirds of the 2021 traffic was international while one-third was domestic , with a significant recovery in traffic from Russia , the Middle East and the USA .
PHOTO : SEA PRIME
INTERVIEW BY : MARIA MOSHKINA