Airbnb has hired air industry vet Fred Reid as global head of transportation, though the hospitality platform remains vague as to its intentions for the industry. Reid will "focus on building partnerships and services that make travel seamless," according to Airbnb, though co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky said the company has not decided exactly what path it is taking. It does not, however, plan to build its own airline or to build "just another place on the internet where you can buy a plane ticket," he said.
"There was a time when getting on a plane was a magical trip of its own, but over the years, how you get to where you're going has become an experience we endure, not enjoy," according to Chesky. "We believe that needs to change."
Reid, meanwhile, brings several decades of airline leadership to Airbnb. He served as president of each Lufthansa and Delta, and he helped create both SkyTeam and Star Alliance while in those respective roles. He also was the founding CEO of Virgin America. More recently, Reid has served as president of private aviation supplier Flexjet, and prior to his position at Airbnb, was president of Cora Aircraft Program, a division of Kitty Hawk that is working to design personal air taxis.
"Whether in the air or on the ground, there are tremendous opportunities to create products and forge partnerships with other companies that make travel easier and even fun," according to Reid. "Realizing those opportunities will take years and require constant experimentations, and I'm truly honored to have the chance to take on such an audacious challenge with this team."