AIRASIA PHILIPPINES announced on Tuesday it has appointed Anna Victoria M. Lu, former president of Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc.’s water unit, as its recent president and general manager.
Ms. Lu, who formerly headed Aboitiz-led Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc., replaces Suresh Bangah.
Mr. Bangah has been reassigned and promoted to chief operations officer of AirAsia Aviation Group, the corporate said in a media release.
“AirAsia Philippines welcomes its recent president and general manager strengthening its leadership bench with deep expertise in navigating complex, highly regulated public services, constructing sustainable partnerships, and driving growth as the corporate enters a brand new phase,” the corporate said.
“Our pursuit of enabling more Filipinos to fly and access travel is rooted in AirAsia’s DNA of democratizing and disrupting air travel. With this approach, and drawing from my experience in each the private and public sectors, I’m deeply committed to expanding our reach and exploring recent horizons as we move forward,” Ms. Lu said.
AirAsia Philippines said it’s specializing in expanding its network to satisfy travel demand. It currently operates 14 domestic and 12 international routes.
The airline said additionally it is working to expand its Cebu hub, with plans to launch international routes.
“We are able to then give attention to sustainable growth by strengthening our hubs and expanding into destinations where we see strong demand and opportunities to raised connect communities. By navigating uncertainty with discipline and operational stability, we also aim to rebuild brand confidence, reassuring our guests that they will depend on us and trust the experience we offer,” Ms. Lu said.
Earlier in April, AirAsia Philippines said it had secured “adequate” jet fuel supply to sustain operations amid concerns over potential disruptions attributable to tightening global supply.
The airline said it should proceed to work with fuel suppliers, industry partners, and government stakeholders to reduce disruptions and ensure travel continuity.
Last month, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) directed AirAsia Philippines to settle unpaid obligations, including airport fees and unremitted passenger charges totaling P833.66 million.
The regulator said the obligations stem from unpaid navigation charges, aircraft landing and parking fees, passenger service charges, and other airport-related fees.
CAAP added that the obligations include unremitted domestic passenger service charges, or terminal fees, including amounts collected for expired and unutilized tickets held in trust for the regulator. — Ashley Erika O. Jose