Amtrak Names William J. Flynn as New CEO

Image: PHOTO: Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner train. (photo via Flickr/Doug Letterman)
Image: PHOTO: Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner train. (photo via Flickr/Doug Letterman)
Donald Wood
by Donald Wood
Last updated: 1:20 PM ET, Tue March 3, 2020

Amtrak announced William J. Flynn would take over as Chief Executive Officer and President on April 15.

Flynn will succeed Richard Anderson, who has been the rail company's CEO since joining Amtrak in 2017. Anderson will stay on for the remainder of 2020 as a senior advisor to Flynn, who enters the job with four decades of transportation and logistics experience.

The 66-year-old Flynn most recently served 13 years as President and CEO of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, and previously worked in senior leadership with CSX Transportation, Sea-Land Services, Inc. and GeoLogistics Corp.

"Bill is the right executive to lead us into the future," Amtrak Board Chairman Tony Coscia said in a statement. "We've never been stronger as a company than we are today. We are modernizing the customer experience and delivering our service to more people."

"Bill has a consistent track record of growing and improving complex transportation businesses," Coscia continued. "We are confident he will build upon the strong foundation of record-setting growth and improvement set by the Board, Richard and the entire Amtrak team."

Flynn takes over a rail company that set new records in ridership, revenue and earnings in 2019 and is on pace to achieve operational breakeven for the first time in Amtrak's 49-year history.

"Amtrak's future is incredibly bright and I'm excited to join the team," Flynn said in a statement. "Amtrak service is vital to millions of Americans across the nation and by improving the customer experience, driving safety, and strengthening our partnership with states and other stakeholders, we can do much more for the American people."


For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore

More From TravelPulse

Donald Wood

Donald Wood

Managing Editor

Donald Wood is TravelPulse’s Managing Editor, bringing nearly 15 years of experience to the desk. He currently lives outside Philadelphia with his wife and two children.

Grow Your Travel Business With Certified Courses

Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.

Don't Miss These Travel Agent Events and Trainings

Watch Now!
New Orleans: Timeless Traditions & Nonstop CultureThursday, August 13, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Learn about New Orleans from the New Orleans experts. During the presentation, you'll hear about...
Upcoming Webinar
Every Island Tells a Story: Part 2 – Selling the Caribbean Through Immersive ExperiencesWednesday, August 19, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Continue the journey in the second installment of our Every Island Tells a Story webinar series. This...
Upcoming Webinar
The Art of Destination Recommendation: Alternative Destination Strategies for Travel AdvisorsTuesday, August 18, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
What if your next best sale is a destination your client hasn’t considered—and you’ve never visited?...
Watch Now!
New Orleans: Timeless Traditions & Nonstop CultureThursday, August 13, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Learn about New Orleans from the New Orleans experts. During the presentation, you'll hear about...
Upcoming Webinar
Every Island Tells a Story: Part 2 – Selling the Caribbean Through Immersive ExperiencesWednesday, August 19, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Continue the journey in the second installment of our Every Island Tells a Story webinar series. This...
Upcoming Webinar
The Art of Destination Recommendation: Alternative Destination Strategies for Travel AdvisorsTuesday, August 18, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
What if your next best sale is a destination your client hasn’t considered—and you’ve never visited?...