# Nicholas Key

> Nicholas Key is the Brighton-based co-founder and CEO of 15below, which he established with John Clynes in 2000 following a career at SITA and American Express Travel. He focuses on personalised passenger communications and disruption management, leading the business through its 2024 LDC investment and first acquisition, Airport AI, in 2025. His public writing connects airline operations to the practical experience of travellers, including his own family’s disrupted journey during the Gatwick drone closure.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at 15below
- **Organizations:** 15below, SITA, American Express Travel
- **Nationality:** British
- **Known for:** Co-founded 15below in 2000 and continues to lead the business as CEO., Led a business supporting more than 60 travel companies and employing over 90 people at the time of its 2024 LDC investment., Established formal strategic partnerships with Amadeus in 2019 and Navitaire in 2023.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2000** — Worked at SITA and American Express Travel.
- **2000** — Co-founded 15below with John Clynes.
- **2019** — Announced the Amadeus partnership and an OpenJaw collaboration linking notifications to chatbot conversations.
- **2023** — Announced a strategic Navitaire partnership following collaboration dating to 2003.
- **2024** — Led 15below into an LDC-backed investment and five-year growth strategy.
- **2025** — Led 15below’s first acquisition, Airport AI, announced on 7 July.
- **2026** — Commented on the Brussels Airport BRUce innovation award and promoted 15below’s eighth customer conference.

## Achievements

- Co-founded 15below in 2000 and continues to lead the business as CEO.
- Led a business supporting more than 60 travel companies and employing over 90 people at the time of its 2024 LDC investment.
- Established formal strategic partnerships with Amadeus in 2019 and Navitaire in 2023.
- Led 15below’s first acquisition, Airport AI, in July 2025.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — Commented on Brussels Airport’s FTE Innovate Airport Innovation Award for BRUce, developed with Airport AI, emphasising closer airline-airport cooperation.
- **2026-02** — Promoted the eighth 15below customer conference in Brighton, focused on empathy, innovation and service recovery.
- **2025-07** — 15below announced its first acquisition, Airport AI, on 7 July.
- **2025-03** — Called for wider supply-chain responsibility following the Heathrow shutdown.

## Links

- Website: https://15below.com/
- LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/15below

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/nicholas-key
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21