BIZ BUZZ: Water exec now AirAsia PH chief
A veteran of water and infrastructure is now charting a course in aviation, as AirAsia Philippines taps Anna Victoria Lu as its new president and general manager.
Lu, who brings over 15 years of experience across utilities, transport and ICT, replaces Suresh Bangah, who has been promoted to group chief operations officer of AirAsia Aviation Group.
“I am deeply committed to expanding our reach and exploring new horizons as we move forward,” said Lu.
Prior to joining the airline, Lu led the water business of Aboitiz Infrastructure, overseeing one of the country’s largest private water PPP projects.
Her immediate task: Keep the recovery on track.
AirAsia in March was hit with a double whammy: Its fuel supply was threatened by a global oil crunch tied to the Middle East war, while obligations exceeding P800 million were flagged by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.
Under Bangah, AirAsia Philippines tightened operational discipline, a foundation Lu said would be critical as the airline contends with external shocks, including fuel cost volatility linked to the Middle East crisis.
“As I step into this role, the immediate priority is continuing operational stability that the team has worked hard to achieve, especially as global pressures such as the ongoing Middle East crisis and its impact on fuel costs continue to challenge the aviation industry,” she said.
AirAsia Philippines currently operates 26 routes—14 domestic and 12 international—and is eyeing further growth, particularly out of Cebu. Plans include new international routes to capture what it describes as “robust” travel demand.
Despite all the turbulence it had to endure, the airline still eked out a 14-percent year-on-year increase in passengers in the first quarter, prompting the rollout of new routes such as Ha Noi and Da Nang.
Whether the airline can sustain clearer skies under Lu’s leadership in the remaining quarters, however, remains up in the air.
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