PAL enters next chapter with new president
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has welcomed its first foreign president as the flag carrier seeks to add to its storied past while “growing [its] business internationally” to feed travel momentum.
In a statement on Wednesday, the airline announced the appointment of British national Richard Nuttall as its new president, effective May 29.
“Appointing Richard Nuttall to Philippine Airlines is an important part of our medium-term and long-term strategy of building a robust management team and growing our business internationally,” said Lucio Tan, PAL chair and CEO.
Nuttall is bringing with him leadership experience from airlines across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. He was last CEO of SriLankan Airlines, where he steered the company toward operational profitability.
He also served as an executive board member of SkyTeam, a major alliance of airlines.
“I am honored to join Philippine Airlines at such a pivotal time. The airline has accomplished so much in recent years, and I look forward to building on that progress as we explore new avenues for growth,” Nuttall said.
He will replace Stanley Ng, who became president and chief operating officer (COO) of the carrier in January 2022. Ng will move to parent company PAL Holdings Inc. as vice president and member of the board of directors.
The airline continues to rebuild its network after the pandemic disrupted operations. In late 2021, PAL announced its exit from a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy process in the United States after completing a financial restructuring plan that eliminated $2.1 billion worth of obligations.
New beginnings
Buoyed by revenge travel, the airline has been profitable since then. Last year, however, the operator of PAL saw its net income decline by 58 percent to P7.02 billion because of weaker revenues.
One of its most notable route launches was last year when it flew directly to Seattle from Manila. This expanded PAL’s US network, which also includes Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Honolulu and Guam.
This year, PAL was able to reopen its Manila-Beijing route after being shut down during the pandemic. The flag carrier also flies to Shanghai, Xiamen and Quanzhou.
It is currently operating a 79-jet fleet—albeit still below the prepandemic level of 91 aircraft.
The airline is set to receive this year the first of nine Airbus A350-1000 jets it ordered to service long-haul routes. Starting 2026, it will start taking delivery of 13 A321neo (new engine option) aircraft.
The flag carrier is targeting to grow passenger volume by 10 percent to 20 percent this year, translating to a total passenger volume of 17.16 million to 18.72 million, or more than the 16.76 million guests the airline flew in 2019 or prior to the pandemic. Last year, it flew 15.6 million passengers, up 6 percent from 2023.
“I believe that under his (Nuttall) leadership, we will sustain the momentum we’ve built over the past years. Now, I’m ready to take on this new role with renewed focus and commitment,” Ng said.
Carlos Luis Fernandez—who is currently the legal counsel and OIC executive vice president (EVP)—will also be promoted as COO and EVP of PAL effective May 29.
