The Técnico alumnus Nuno Leal has been distinguished by the Airline Economics magazine as one of the 40 professionals under the age of 40 who stand out in the commercial aviation industry this year. The Técnico alumnus holds the position of Head of Fleet Planning and Contracts at TAP Air Portugal.

Nuno Leal joined TAP in 2007. He was responsible for the implementation of the European Union Emission Trading Scheme at TAP and he supported the Portuguese authority and Eurocontrol in the company’s implementation processes. He has also been responsible for product restructuring at TAP in recent years and he has coordinated all new generation aircraft programmes. Since 2017, he has led TAP in the process that has successfully funded more than $ 4 billion (about € 3.6 billion) to acquire new advanced technology aircraft and engines.

After completing his MSc in Mechanical Engineering, and before joining TAP, Nuno Leal was a researcher at Técnico. Nowadays, besides working at TAP he is professor of MSc in Air Transport Operations at ISEC and he co-authors several scientific articles.

This is the third time that Airline Economics magazine has released this 40 under 40 list, which includes a wide variety of professions – lawyers, bankers, airline executives and others.