Gideon Thaler, TAL AVIATION, Israel
Gideon Thaler started his career working in sales for TWA in Tel Aviv on 1st March 1965.
He moved on to become the Manager of CP Air, later becoming the Manager of Canadian Airlines International in Israel.
At the same time, he was also the GSA for Qantas, the Australian airline.
When Canadian Airlines sold their flying rights to Israel over to Air Canada, Qantas stayed with Gideon, and Gideon formed TAL Aviation with a staff of four.
He proceeded to win the bid for the GSA for American Airlines in Israel, where he promoted AA’s first international flight, Dallas Fort Worth to London England.
American realized the integrity and transparency of Gideon as a partner in running a business and Gideon was asked to take over as GSA for American Airlines in Poland, then Turkey, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Russia, becoming instrumental in growing the expansion of AA in Europe.
American Airlines put trust in Gideon and a successful relationship was formed.
TAL Aviation along the way grew their portfolio to become a GSA for over 35 airlines, employing 200 people worldwide in more than 30 territories.
Now completing 58 years in the aviation and tourism industry!
During this time dedicating hours to promoting airlines and tourism, and serving on the financial committee of the panel of airlines in Israel for years.
He also found the time to raise a family and was a regular volunteer visiting and cheering up terminally ill patients in hospitals.
In his thirties when he started, and now at eighty years old he is still going strong. He goes to the office daily and is very capable of making important decisions.
One of Gideon’s famous slogans is “I am not happy if my customers are not happy”.
“I emphasize always a win-win situation where both parties are satisfied”.
Even today, many airlines and global companies approach Gideon for advice on how to enter certain territories.
Gideon Thaler is a family man, businessman, and charitable man.
He is respected throughout the aviation and tourism industry, met and got to know all the big players, and remained humble throughout the years.
He is certainly a man of the year in tourism and a true aviation and tourism hero!
What Gideon Thaler says:
Gideon Thaler, CEO of TAL Aviation is expressing himself as follows:
“I was born in Israel and ever since have been living through wars. I celebrated my 80th birthday this month and recalled how I was always experiencing wars ever since I came into this world.
In 1943 WWII, the 1956 Sinai War, the 1967 Six Day War, the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the 1991 Gulf War, and now war with Hamas – Swords of Iron. If you are looking for excitement there is never a dull moment in Israel”.
The Saturday before last, thousands of people were sitting in coffee shops in Tel Aviv and along the beach, it seemed those who are living in the current conditions, aside from the sirens coming with less frequency, only every few days, people are not getting too concerned about it, and with time now take it as a temporary five to ten-minute burden.
We are now in a four-day ceasefire to allow the return of hostages within this period. It is still to be seen if this ceasefire will be extended by a mutual understanding between Israel and Hamas and pending pressure from USA, Egypt, and Qatar.
Most of the foreign airlines suspended flights to Israel but are exploring their return in the next few weeks. Ethiopian Airlines, represented by TAL Aviation, has already announced resuming service from 1 December ‘23 with 5 weekly flights to Addis Ababa, connecting to Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Gideon Thaler says we see good loads and it is anticipated that tourism will shortly start to grow pending on the current situation and the hope of no service deterioration. El Al and Sun Dor, represented by TAL Aviation in twelve countries; (Bosnia/Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, & Turkey), is operating regularly with good load factors.
Nominated by Barbara P.Shorr │ Regional Manager, TAL AVIATION www.tal-aviation.com