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Few people can say they were there when the modern aviation era truly took off—fewer still who can tell the story with both gravitas and a twinkle in the eye. Today, we at Global Travel Media are delighted to welcome one such man: Mario, a seasoned airline executive turned international journalist, who brings with him more tales than a Qantas baggage carousel during school holidays.

Mario’s career began, quite literally, when the skies were still being mapped. He entered the world of civil aviation in 1960, just as British European Airways (BEA) was finding its post-war wings and when flight attendants still handed out boiled sweets for take-off.

In 1971, he took a rather adventurous leap to East African Airways—not the easiest move in an era when navigating the Equator required more than just a decent wristwatch and a polite accent. Not long after, Mario was shortlisted for a coveted managerial post with the then-joint Malaysia–Singapore Airlines (MAS), an airline with one foot in the Orient and another striding into the global arena.

Following the amicable split of MAS into two separate national carriers in 1972—a separation far more civilised than most celebrity divorces—Mario stayed on with Singapore Airlines. And wisely so. He served as marketing manager for Italy, Greece, and Malta until 1987, promoting a brand of flying that offered warm towels, world-class service, and not a budget fare in sight.

But Mario is not just a man of skies—he is a man of words. Holding a journalist’s license that predates most airline websites, he turned his attention full-time to storytelling after stepping away from corporate aviation. His editorial debut came with the Milan-based agency Milanopress, where he wasted no time proving that a man who could navigate the labyrinthine timetables of Heathrow and Fiumicino could just as easily tackle a newsroom deadline.

Since then, he has contributed widely to Italian and international media, keeping his pen sharp and passport active. He is also a long-time member of the Foreign Press Club in Rome, known for his grace, professionalism, and uncanny ability to recall airline menus from the 1970s.

Stephen Morton, Editor-in-Chief at Global Travel Media, said:

“Mario’s arrival is a coup. He brings decades of deep aviation knowledge and more importantly, a soul. In a world of AI-generated copy and corporate press kits, Mario remains refreshingly human.”

As for Mario himself, in his typically understated way:

“Travel has been my profession, my passion and my privilege. I look forward to continuing the journey with a team that values storytelling as much as strategy.”

So, to our readers—expect stories told with dignity, insight and the occasional glint of old-school glamour. And to Mario—benvenuto. We’re delighted you’ve landed with us. There’s a seat by the window, and the kettle’s on.