Tan asks PAL employees to support son-in-law Stanley Ng

MANILA, Philippines — Taipan Lucio Tan asked employees of Philippine Airlines to support his son-in-law Stanley Ng, PAL’s newly appointed president and COO.

“I ask that you support him, as he confronts immense challenges,” the 87-year-old taipan told PAL employees after the company’s board meeting on Monday, as he announced the appointment of Ng.

During the meeting, Ng, a veteran PAL pilot and SVP for operations, was appointed president and COO in OIC capacity following the resignation of Gilbert Santa Maria.

“I am optimistic that he will be able to execute the recovery plan and build on the momentum of the success of the financial restructuring,” said Tan, chairman and CEO of PAL.

Tan also expressed his gratitude to his PAL family for their effort and sacrifice shepherding the airline through the last two years of the pandemic, which he said had not been very easy.

“But my faith in the resiliency of PAL and the dedication of its people has never wavered. In the most difficult of times during the pandemic, when our planes were practically all grounded, I continued to believe that PAL was worth supporting,” Tan said.

He reiterated his commitment to keep the nation’s flag carrier flying, noting that his support was best exemplified by his support for the landmark Chapter 11 process and its requirements, “at a time when no one wanted to bet on the airline industry.”

On the Chapter 11 process, which was implemented under Santa Maria’s leadership, Tan described it as a “resounding success.”

Ng has also been elected as director of PAL Holdings and Air Philippines Corp., replacing the positions previously-held by Santa Maria.

PAL Holdings said Sta. Maria “is considered resigned from all other positions and directorate in all other companies or subsidiaries in the expanded Lucio Tan Group.”

After successfully emerging from its voluntary Chapter 11 proceedings, PAL intends to reinvest in its operations to better serve its customers.

The flag carrier plans 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 historic new services to Israel.

It also plans to roll out new product advancements this year as part of a commitment to continuously upgrade services. – Richmond Mercurio