Alan Joyce

Alan Joyce: Riding the Jet Stream is a compelling, factual and gripping memoir from one of Australia’s most consequential chief executives. With a network spanning seven prime ministers and countless captains of industry, Alan Joyce provides a no-holds-barred account of some of the most important decisions taken during his career leading one of aviation's most respected brands.

Few chief executives have been tested as relentlessly: the Global Financial Crisis, bitter industrial battles, unrelenting public scrutiny, and the near collapse of aviation during COVID. In a role where every decision is hugely consequential, Alan sets the record straight and tells his story as it happens – in real time, under pressure – in this candid memoir.

From grounding the Qantas fleet, to steering through a pandemic that brought global travel to a standstill, Alan’s tenure is woven into some of the nation’s most significant moments.

Alan’s an outstanding executive … intelligent, strategic, courageous and honest … clearly the attributes needed to lead an iconic company like Qantas through the many challenges he faced during his tenure. – Leigh Clifford, Qantas Chairman 2007–2018

About the Author

From a working-class childhood in Dublin, Alan Joyce's leadership of one of the world's most iconic airlines, Qantas, is a story of ambition, intellect and steel. After early roles at Aer Lingus and a pivotal move to Australia, Alan became the founding CEO of low-cost carrier Jetstar before being appointed CEO of the Qantas Group, at the age of just 42.

Few chief executives have been tested as relentlessly: the Global Financial Crisis, bitter industrial battles, unrelenting public scrutiny, and the near collapse of aviation during COVID. In a role where every decision is hugely consequential, Joyce tells his story as it happens - in real time, under pressure. For fifteen years, Alan Joyce was CEO of Australia's most recognised corporation - Qantas, the flying kangaroo.