Bernhard Wodl to become Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Sales & Aviation
Top executive from the aviation sector strengthens management team at the airport / Bernhard Wodl to become Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Sales & Aviation from October 1, 2024 / New impetus for the strategic development of the passenger product
The position of Head of Sales & Aviation at Salzburg Airport had been vacant since the beginning of the year and was taken over on an interim basis by Airport Managing Director Bettina Ganghofer. Especially for such specialized positions in the aviation sector, it is necessary to search for potential candidates on a European level in order to find the best manager for the airport. The search and selection process was accompanied by the renowned company Iro & Partner Personal & Managementberatung. In the end, Bernhard Wodl prevailed among numerous applicants as the new CCO Sales & Aviation and won over the jury. “I am very pleased to welcome Bernhard Wodl as a new member of the airport management team. Bernhard Wodl was General Manager for the Caucasus, Central Asia, Belarus and the Russian Federation until he started here at Lufthansa Airport. As an aviation professional, he will be responsible for the large Sales & Aviation division in future and will continue to develop it,” says Bettina Ganghofer, Managing Director of the airport. Over the course of his career, Bernhard Wodl has held various positions in the aviation industry and can look back on an impressive career. “Bernhard Wodl will fit in well with our airport team. With his hands-on mentality and excellent communication skills, he will quickly become a valuable member of our management team,” Ganghofer continued.
In addition to developing innovative sales and marketing strategies, Bernhard Wodl was General Manager of Lufthansa's business in Bosnia, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia and Serbia. Prior to this, he held the position of Regional Director at Swiss International Airlines (responsible for Austria and Central-Eastern Europe), where he was responsible for the strategic direction of the sales organization. “I am very much looking forward to the new challenges at Salzburg Airport. I have spent many years working in the international aviation sector and would like to use my experience and knowledge to help further increase the commercial success of the airport. My clear focus is on expanding the flight business in both the passenger and cargo segments and on further developing the passenger product in the new terminal,” says Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Sales & Aviation Bernhard Wodl. Bernhard Wodl's extensive experience in strategic planning and business development means that, as a former “all-rounder” in the airline industry, he has a special eye for ground handling. His international network and multilingualism will be of great benefit to the further development of Salzburg Airport, particularly in negotiations with partners and airlines.
Short vita
Bernhard Wodl was born on February 26, 1977 in Neunkirchen in Lower Austria and has established himself in various management positions within the aviation sector over the years. Since October 2024, he has been Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Salzburg Airport, where he is responsible for the commercial orientation and strategic development of the passenger product at the airport. Bernhard Wodl previously held various key positions at Lufthansa German Airlines. From January 2022 to September 2024, he was General Manager for the Central Asia, Caucasus, Belarus and Russian Federation regions, based in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Prior to that, he was General Manager for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia, based in Zagreb, from 2016 to 2021. He also held the position of Deputy Chairman of the Board of the German-Croatian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK Croatia) from 2017 to 2019. Bernhard Wodl began his career in 1993 as a freelance travel agency employee and subsequently gained extensive experience in various functions, including as an IATA specialist and as Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe at Swiss International Air Lines. His career at Lufthansa also took him into the areas of Business Development, Operational Services and Pricing. He is currently deepening his knowledge in the field of business psychology as part of a Bachelor's degree at the IU International University.
Bernhard Wodl is married and has two grown-up daughters. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, running, cooking and playing the church organ. His broad range of experience and sound education make him a valuable manager in the international aviation business.
