AirAsia Aviation Group ushers in a new era of OPEX

AirAsia Aviation Group ushers in a new era of operational excellence (OPEX) with the appointment of seasoned aviation leader captain Suresh Bangah as the president and general manager of AirAsia Philippines.

An experienced aviation professional with almost 30 years of experience, Captain Suresh brings extensive operational expertise and a strong leadership track record as the airline embarks on a fresh period of sustainable growth.

Captain Suresh most recently served as group director of flight operations at AAAGL and previously held key roles at AirAsia X Berhad (AAX) including chief pilot and director of flight operations. He succeeds Ricky Isla, who retires after six years at the helm.

A new era of OPEX for AirAsia Aviation Group

In 2024, AirAsia Philippines flew almost seven million guests. As it enters its next phase of growth, the airline plans to expand its operational fleet to 19 aircraft – a move that will boost capacity to meet rising demand while sustaining a 90 percent load factor in 2025, according to the airline.

These ambitions are underpinned by a group-wide strategy to elevate the end-to-end guest experience through digitally enabled services and ancillary innovations, while strengthening air connectivity from the Philippines across AirAsia’s network of over 130 destinations, it added.

Captain Suresh steps into his role at an important juncture, commented Bo Lingam, group CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group. “As AirAsia progresses into our next chapter, the Philippines remains a key pillar in our regional strategy – with strong potential in inter-island connectivity and broader regional integration into Asean and North Asia, among others.”

With extensive management and industry experience – particularly in upholding the gold standard in safety and OPEX, and a deep commitment to guest-centricity, captain Suresh is well placed to build on the strong foundations laid by his predecessor, Lingam added.

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Elevating operations amid global challenges

“I am honored to serve at the helm of AirAsia Philippines and look forward to working with the board members from AirAsia Aviation Group and AirAsia Philippines, Group CEO Bo Lingam, Ricky and the local team in one of our core markets to champion a new era of sustainable and profitable growth for the future,” said captain Bangah.

Bangah outlined a commitment to elevating operations while raising the bar on the end-to-end guest experience. “We’re firmly aligned with national efforts to grow the aviation and tourism sectors – from meeting rising demand for travel to supporting connectivity and infrastructure developments that will shape the future of travel in the Philippines.”

At the same time, the organization remains focused on addressing key external challenges including global supply chain delays affecting aircraft maintenance, rising fuel costs, higher airport charges and environmental factors that can impact operations, he added.

“With strong foundations in place, we look forward to collaborating with our partners and stakeholders to strengthen the local aviation ecosystem, while advancing Asean connectivity to the world as we connect guests to what matters most, from education and work opportunities to family and new adventures.”

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