Richard Gaona

Executive Chairman & CEO

Graduated from Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM) as an Economic Engineer, Richard Gaona, is a French citizen who started his career in 1982 in the design office of Aerospatiale (now well known as Airbus SAS).

In April 1999, after 17 years working at Airbus, Richard was appointed Vice President of Airbus Executive and Private division to launch the Airbus Corporate Jetliner program. During his 8 years leading the Executive and Private Aviation at Airbus, Richard Gaona achieved a total of 120 aircraft sold around the world. Among his major achievements we can highlight the sale of the first A380 VIP Flying Palace to Prince Al Walid bin Talal bin al Saud of Saudi Arabia as well as the launch of successful Airbus A318 Elite program. Richard also accomplished the sale of world's first ACJ TwoTwenty.

In November 2007, after more than 25 years with Airbus, Richard Gaona joined Comlux, the Swiss-based VIP charter operator, and created the group Comlux.

In 2011, he received an award from European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) for recognition of his career and support to the development of business aviation.

Richard Gaona is currently Executive Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Comlux Group. Under his leadership Comlux became:

- an approved Airbus and Boeing cabin completion & service center and the exclusive completion center of the ACJ TwoTwenty business jet

- one of the largest aircraft management & charter company worldwide with a versatile fleet of business jets, bizliners and wide body aircraft

- the launching customer of the Boeing BBJ MAX, the Airbus ACJ neo, and the ACJ TwoTwenty

- the first worldwide large VIP aircraft sales company with more than 70 transactions in the last ten years