Astral appoints Darryl Judd as Executive Director and Chief Strategy Officer

Astral Aviation has appointed Darryl Judd as Executive Director and Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer (CSTO), strengthening its leadership as the airline expands across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania. Judd will guide the company’s shift to a more disciplined scheduled-network model focused on customer-centric operations, safety, and performance.

Based in Dubai, Judd will operate across Astral’s key hubs, including Dubai, Nairobi, Johannesburg, and Hong Kong, as the airline extends its reach east and south. Astral currently operates a growing portfolio of scheduled routes supported by over 60 interline agreements and strategic partnerships with leading global carriers, enabling end-to-end solutions for its customers and expanding the impact of its scheduled flights and dedicated programme flying.

Sanjeev Gadhia, Founder and CEO of Astral Aviation, said Judd joins at an important moment as the airline accelerates its transition toward a scheduled network. “His mandate is clear: keep the customer at the centre of our universe and hard-wire operational discipline into how we operate,” Gadhia said. “Darryl’s airline leadership across complex markets will help us grow with precision while safeguarding the standards our partners expect.”

As CSTO, Judd will lead Astral’s move from primarily non-scheduled operations to a fully integrated scheduled network. He will also oversee fleet and network development, strategy, portfolio management, capital partnerships, and operational performance across stations. Near-term plans include adding B767-300F aircraft, with B777 freighters under evaluation.

Judd brings more than 30 years of airline and air cargo experience, including senior executive roles at Ansett Australia, Ansett New Zealand, AWAS, Alfa Aerospace, and A.P. Moller–Maersk. He has previously advised Astral’s Board on strategic investments and now joins to steer the airline’s next chapter.

Commenting on his appointment, Judd said: “Astral is supercharged for growth. My focus is straightforward: turn strategy into scheduled capacity, reliable operations, and measurable customer outcomes. We will be uncompromising on safety and performance, invest in our people, and scale solutions that make Astral the most customer-driven cargo airline linking Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.”