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Sky Bird celebrates five decades at Michigan gala
The event brought together airline executives, travel professionals, industry partners and employees from across the United States and Canada.
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Staff Reporter - Tue, 18, Aug 2026
- 17:22 EDT
- 38
Presentation of two special tributes recognizing the company’s contributions to Michigan and the travel industry / Provided
Sky Bird, an airline consolidator founded by Indian American couple Arvin Shah and Jaya Shah, celebrated its 50th anniversary with a Golden Jubilee Gala earlier this month in Southfield, Michigan.
The milestone event also included the presentation of two special tributes recognizing the company’s contributions to Michigan and the travel industry. Michigan State Sen. Jeremy Moss and Democratic Leader Ranjeev Puri presented the honors, recognizing Sky Bird for its business excellence, economic contributions, community leadership and commitment to innovation.
Representatives from several major airlines attended the anniversary celebration, including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Etihad Airways, Air India, Lufthansa Group, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Royal Air Maroc and American Airlines.
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Arvin Shah, chairman of Sky Bird, said the company’s founding principles of trust, integrity, service and lasting relationships continue to guide its operations. “Seeing so many of our airline partners, travel advisors, employees and friends gathered together to celebrate this milestone was incredibly meaningful. Every achievement over the past five decades has been made possible through the loyalty of our partners, the dedication of our employees, and the confidence our travel advisors have placed in us. While we are proud of what we've accomplished, we firmly believe the best is yet to come,” he said.
Akshay Shah, owner of Sky Bird, said the company plans to build on its legacy by investing in technology, expanding airline partnerships and developing additional services for travel advisors. “The next chapter of Sky Bird is about building on an incredible legacy while continuing to innovate for the future. We will keep investing in technology, expanding our airline partnerships, supporting travel advisors, and identifying new ways to create value for our travel advisors. Our ambition is not simply to honor the past - it is to ensure Sky Bird continues setting the standard for excellence well into the future ,” Akshay Shah said.
Norman Knowles, the company’s chief executive officer, said Sky Bird remains focused on providing travel advisors with products, technology, expertise and support as the travel industry evolves.
“As the travel landscape continues to evolve, our mission remains unchanged - to provide travel advisors with the products, technology, expertise and support they need to succeed. We're excited about the opportunities ahead and remain focused on helping our partners grow their businesses over the next fifty years,” Knowles said.
Sky Bird is one of North America’s airline consolidators, offering airfare solutions, booking technology and support to travel professionals. Through its proprietary WINGS booking platform, the company provides access to airfare opportunities, NDC content, multi-GDS capabilities and round-the-clock assistance.
The company supports travel professionals nationwide and works with more than 100 global airline partners. It recently launched the #WhyUseATravelAgent initiative, a nationwide campaign aimed at raising awareness about the value and expertise of professional travel advisors.
The anniversary celebration marked both Sky Bird’s five decades in business and its plans to continue expanding its services and partnerships in the years ahead.
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