The travel industry is shocked and saddened by the sudden death of airline industry stalwart, David James, at his Johannesburg home on Sunday morning, aged 62.

At the time of publication the cause of death was pending the result of a post mortem. His funeral will take place on Friday, February 20 at the Bryanston Catholic Church in Sloane Street, Johannesburg.

James’ long career in aviation included senior executive positions with British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, South African Airways and Eritrean Airlines as well as many years of consulting to African airlines, where he specialised in turnaround management, organisational change and airline start-ups

His friends describe him as a very warm and much-loved person. “He had a wonderful sense of humour, a generous heart and had many interests. He was full of life and very caring about other people. He loved his sports, mainly cricket and rugby, music, golf and the bush, where we spent many happy times. His unexpected death has come as a great shock to his wife, Trish, and his many friends,” said family friend, Lindy Nauta.

“In his words – and he did have a way with words – he was a ‘top bloke’,” said Lilian Boyle, retired executive director of Bidvest. “He had a wonderful sense of humour, richly coloured by his half-Irish genes, was a great story-teller, a genial and generous host and was always good company. He was well respected in the aviation world and his likeable nature made him an excellent networker.  We had such fun in so many ways – on the golf courses of the world, in the African bushveldt and just sitting around a jar or two of Scotland’s finest.  With much in common, I have lost a very dear friend and my heart goes out to Trish at this sad time.  He was taken too soon.”

 “David was a good friend and colleague,” said Jim Weighell, Operations Director of the Global Business Travel Association Southern Africa. “He was a very clever man and inherently understood the airline business. At the same time, he never took himself too seriously. I will miss him as a friend and the industry has lost a local icon.”

“We will always remember David very fondly for his charismatic personality and immense kindness as well as his substantial contribution to the South African travel industry,” said BA Commercial Manager, Sue Botes.

“He was well loved and respected by his colleagues during his time at Virgin Atlantic,” added the airline’s Sales and Marketing Manager, Liezl Gericke. “Our condolences to his family and those close to him during this difficult time.”

James was born and educated in London, the son of an Irish mother and a Welsh father. During his time at BA, his positions included regional cargo manager in the Middle East and India from 1987 to 1989; sales manager in India from 1989 to 1991; gm in Spain and Portugal from 1991 to 1994; and gm Southern Africa from 1994 to 1996. He then became Virgin Atlantic’s gm South Africa from 1996 to 1998, before taking over as vice president global sales at SAA from 1998 to 2000. In 2012, he briefly worked as commercial director at Eritrean Airlines in Asmara. 

James also consulted to the African airline industry, last as partner at David James & Associates Airline Consulting for the past two years and as director at Aviation Global Solutions for seven years from 2004 to 2012. He was also director of client relationships at Rennies Travel between 2000 and 2004.