PHILIPPINE Airlines, Inc. (PAL) announced on Monday that its senior vice-president for operations, Capt. Stanley K. Ng, has been appointed as the flag carrier’s new president and chief operating officer (COO), in an acting or officer-in-charge capacity, replacing Gilbert F. Santa Maria.
Mr. Ng, a son-in-law of billionaire Lucio C. Tan, will now oversee the flag carrier’s efforts to “maintain the momentum toward full recovery” following its recent Chapter 11 restructuring, the airline said in an e-mailed statement.
PAL said Mr. Ng is the first pilot to assume the presidency of the flag carrier since the early 1960s.
“He brings to the job a wealth of experience in the airline industry,” it noted.
Mr. Ng began his career with the airline as a member of the on-ground staff in 2003 before attending the PAL Aviation School.
He started flying as a second officer in 2008 and “rose up the ranks until he was promoted to senior vice-president in 2019 in charge of the airline’s internationally-respected pilots and cabin crew, as well as operational airport and engineering teams,” PAL said.
Citing industry sources, OneNews and The Philippine Star reported on Jan. 30 that Mr. Santa Maria was “stepping down” as president and COO of the flag carrier.
In its statement on Monday, PAL said Mr. Santa Maria had “completed his engagement with Philippine Airlines after successfully leading and completing the Chapter 11 process.”
“The Board expressed its gratitude to Mr. Santa Maria for his steady stewardship of the company over the last two and a half years,” the company said.
“The former president and COO will continue to make himself available to assist in the leadership transition over the next few weeks,” it added.
The airline has said that it aims to restore more routes and increase flight frequencies as travel restrictions ease and borders reopen, including the resumption of regular flights to multiple cities in mainland China, full regularization of flights to Australia and the commencement of new services to Israel.
PAL previously reported a loss of $11.67 million, or P582.65 million, for November 2021, three months after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, resulting in a cumulative loss of $69.09 million, or P3.45 billion. The airline had a gross income of $143.48 million for the month.
The company anticipates to generate an operating income of $220 million this year and $364 million in 2023. — Arjay L. Balinbin
