SkyWest named Wade Steel president and chief operating officer of SkyWest Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SkyWest.
As president and chief operating officer of SkyWest Airlines, the company’s largest operating entity, Steel will be responsible for the airline’s operational and fiscal success. He will oversee SkyWest Airlines leadership and continue reporting to Chip Childs, SkyWest president and CEO. As he takes on managing over 16,000 employees, 2,600 daily departures and partnerships with four major airlines, Steel’s leadership will help advance SkyWest’s position as the premier regional airline.
“Wade’s work with our airline partners, commercial strategy and fleet development has prepared him well for this role at SkyWest Airlines,” Childs said. “His direct approach and passion for SkyWest’s success will be tremendous assets as SkyWest Airlines continues to grow and compete.”
As Steel assumes leadership of the airline’s operations and assets, Bryce Bailey has been named vice president of commercial contracts, where he will oversee the entity’s vendor and commercial agreements. He will continue to report to Steel. Bailey joined SkyWest’s team in 2011 and was named managing director of planning in 2021. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Brigham Young University.
Steel joined SkyWest leadership in 2007 and served as vice president – controller of SkyWest Airlines from 2011-2014. He was named executive vice president of SkyWest in 2014 before becoming the chief commercial officer in 2015. During his time at SkyWest, Steel has been instrumental in SkyWest’s significant fleet transition and evolution. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Brigham Young University.
“As SkyWest grows, these leadership appointments will help us continue to evolve and advance while holding fast to our core values of excellent service and quality, operational reliability, respect and teamwork, and always safety first,” Childs said. “We look forward to the bright future ahead.”
