Airline Industry Executive David Pflieger: Selected Career Highlights

A seasoned corporate executive and professional pilot with a comprehensive background in law, David Pflieger brings a wealth of experience to his current work at the helm of Fiji’s national carrier, Air Pacific Ltd. Mr. Pflieger laid the foundation for a career in the airline industry following the completion of his studies at the United States Naval Academy. Ranked first in his class, he accepted a cross-commission offer from the U.S. Air Force to serve as a Squadron Executive Officer and B-52 Instructor Pilot, a move that placed him in charge of high stakes nuclear alert, conventional weapons, and cruise missile missions. Garnering numerous accolades for his performance including an Air Force Commendation Medal, David Pflieger subsequently assumed a role as Air Force Reserve Officer supervising eight C-130 cargo aircraft, a post that required a great deal of tactical skill and psychological focus.

While still serving in the Air Force, Pflieger returned to academia to pursue dual law and business degrees at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. After obtaining a Master of Business Administration and a Juris Doctorate in 1997, Mr. Pflieger joined one of Atlanta’s top legal firms where he primarily focused on litigation, intellectual property, and white-collar crime. From 1998 to 2001, he functioned as Chief Operations Attorney for Delta Air Lines, supervising the carrier’s in-house defense cases and all relevant compliance matters. Earning a promotion to Director of Flight Safety, David Pflieger restructured an entire department and implemented a closed loop risk assessment program, enabling Delta to achieve a record year of safe operation. Prior to leaving Delta, he was installed as Vice President of Operations for Song, the organization’s budget carrier.

Leading up to his tenure at Air Pacific, David Pflieger oversaw the launch of U.S.-based operations for Virgin America. As the company’s Senior Vice President of Legal and Government Affairs, Mr. Pflieger instituted a multiplicity of initiatives that resulted in a “Best Domestic Airline” designation from Conde Nast and Travel & Leisure in 2008, 2009, and 2010.