Marc Houalla (born 10 February 1961 in Rueil‑Malmaison) is a French aerospace engineer and senior civil aviation administrator. He is best known for leading France's national civil aviation school and, later, for managing two of the country's major airports. His career bridges technical education, operational training and airport management.

Education and early formation

Houalla trained at the École nationale de l'aviation civile (ENAC), France's national civil aviation university, where he completed engineering studies in the early 1980s. He later broadened his management skills with an MBA from HEC Paris (completed in 1990). This combination of technical and business education informed his work in aviation education and later in airport operations.

Professional roles and career highlights

Houalla has held positions that alternated between training organisations and operational management. He served as director of the flight training and education service SEFA, a body involved in pilot instruction, before taking senior responsibilities at ENAC. From 28 November 2008 until October 2017 he was the head of ENAC, where he oversaw academic programmes, professional training and institutional partnerships.

In the late 2010s Houalla moved to executive roles within airport management. He was appointed chief of Paris‑Orly Airport for a transitional period from November 2017 to February 2018, and in February 2018 he took leadership of Paris–Charles de Gaulle Airport, one of Europe's busiest aviation hubs. His tenure in these roles involved coordinating large teams and interfacing with national and international aviation stakeholders (Paris–Charles de Gaulle Airport).

Associations, alumni work and public profile

Alongside operational duties, Houalla has remained active in alumni and professional circles. He has held leadership positions with the ENAC alumni association, serving at times as its honorary president and later as head of the association itself (ENAC Alumni). His profile is typical of senior figures who move between education, regulatory contexts and the business of running airports.

Contributions and significance

  • Promotion of links between academic training and industry needs, reflecting his dual background in engineering and business.
  • Management of large, complex airport systems with a focus on operational continuity and stakeholder coordination.
  • Experience in organizing and directing pilot and technical training through organisations such as SEFA and ENAC.

Marc Houalla's career illustrates a path from technical education into high‑level administration within civil aviation. His work has spanned teaching and training institutions, alumni leadership and the operational challenges of major international airports, linking academic preparation to real‑world aviation management and safety.