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Andrew Levy has spent three decades in the airline industry, building a career that has taken him from airline startups to the executive ranks of one of the nation’s biggest carriers.
Through it all, the Avelo Airlines founder and CEO says that hard work has remained a constant throughout his career.
“Working really, really hard. That’s the truth,” Levy told FOX Business.
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Levy began his aviation career at ValuJet Airlines and later became a co-founder of Allegiant Air, where he held several leadership roles, including president. He went on to serve as chief financial officer of United Airlines before launching Avelo in 2021.
The Avelo CEO also pointed to authenticity and a willingness to show vulnerability as lessons that have shaped his leadership.
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“I think there’s two things,” Levy said. “I think one is always be genuine to yourself. And the second one is don’t be afraid to show vulnerability.”
Levy said vulnerability can sometimes be viewed as a “weakness” in leadership, but he sees it differently.
“The best career advice I think I’ve received is to just not be afraid to be vulnerable and to show your vulnerability,” he said.
Asked about one task he refuses to delegate, Levy said he prefers to handle tough conversations himself.
“Giving bad news,” he said. “I think that in my role especially, that it’s really important to deliver the good, the bad and the ugly, but not hide behind somebody else to do that, but do it myself.”
Levy also pushed back on the perception that being a CEO is an “easy” job.
“It’s anything but,” he said. “It’s constant work. It’s a constant focus, attention. It consumes your life.”
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He said people may see the title and compensation that can come with running a company without recognizing “the challenges and the toll it takes on you and the investment you have to make as a person to actually be in that role.”
“I think there’s an underappreciation for how hard it is and the responsibilities that you carry in that role,” he added.
For those looking to enter the airline industry, Levy said being comfortable with uncertainty and constant change is essential.
“It’s dynamic, it’s exciting, but it’s constant change,” he said. “And you have to enjoy that. You have to enjoy some level of chaos.”
If he were not running an airline, Levy said he could see himself working at an investment firm or in private equity, where he could learn about different businesses and industries.
“I would be interested in that only because I get to just see lots of different things,” he said, pointing to his “itch” for “constantly learning.”
Long before reaching the C-suite, Levy said his first jobs involved raking leaves, pulling weeds and mowing lawns — “whatever I could do to make a little bit of money as a kid.”
Asked a series of rapid-fire questions, Levy offered a glimpse into his preferences and personality.
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He described himself as a “night owl” who does “a lot of work at night” and said he prefers working in the office.
Asked for his least favorite corporate buzzword, Levy pointed to “laser focused.”
“It makes no sense,” he said, with a laugh.
When asked for one word his team would use to describe him, Levy answered: “Intense.”
