In a recent statement, Philippine Airlines (PAL) has announced that it is handing over the reins to aviation industry veteran Capt. Stanley Ng — the flag carrier’s newly appointed president and chief operating officer (COO). He is the first pilot in 60 years to hold the position.
In a statement released to the media, PAL said Ng, fondly called “ Capt. Stanley” by colleagues, has been with PAL since 2003. He started as an on-ground staff member before climbing the corporate ladder to become Senior Vice President (SVP) for Airline Operations at PAL. Now in his mid-40s, the gentleman’s hands-on experience and knowledge on the ins and outs of airline operations is expected to come in handy, as he fulfills his duties as president and COO in an officer-in-charge (OIC) capacity.
The statement quoted Ng as saying: “From check-in to passenger boarding, I was exposed to everything that went on at the airport. It helped me understand the problems that the airline staff and customers would encounter.”
Capt. Stanley’s journey as a pilot began at the PAL Aviation School. He further trained at the Airbus Training Center. Training in Toulouse, France under the Deputy Chief Instructor of Airbus Dubai was a turning point for Captain Stanley, who was bent on becoming the best pilot in PAL.
“It changed my mindset. It made me realize that people are not only taking a flight with you. They are entrusting everything that’s precious to them. Their families, their own lives,” he added. “I was inspired to be someone else, to be different from everyone, to do the right thing.”
To further his studies, he recently completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
A New Brand of Leadership: Confident Humility
Captain Stanley brings a more participative and collaborative management style to the 81-year-old airline, which has vowed to keep flying, now and long into the future.
“I discovered a lot about my purpose while taking the management program at Harvard. I realized there is confidence in experience and strength in humility. That’s the kind of leadership I’d like to bring in PAL,” he said, adding that, he plans to harness PAL’s internal expertise to solve problems in a collaborative manner, which is also a strategy to use the airline’s resources more effectively.
With extensive experience in flight operations, he will also bring a renewed emphasis on the efficiency and safety culture at PAL.
“My part in the Chapter 11 filing was operations and safety. So, we’re able to actually perform well. In terms of operational safety, our standards are really high,” he added.
Every two years, airlines need to renew their International Air Transportation Association (IATA) Operation Safety Audit, and PAL has consistently performed well under Capt. Stanley’s watch.
In 2019, he proposed a dialogue with air traffic controllers to improve the on-time performance (OTP) of planes flying to and from Manila. This required him to get on the drawing board to work with the team, which according to the Department of Transportation, resulted in PAL recording “an all-time high OTP rating of 92% in October, and consistent OTPs of 80%, 82% and 89% for the months of July to September, respectively.”
Ready for Take-Off
Capt. Stanley is supported by the existing management team which will remain intact as the company maintains its momentum towards full recovery.
As the first pilot in 60 years to become president of PAL, albeit, in an OIC capacity, he is perceived to become a unifying leader amid the enormous challenges the pandemic continues to bring.
According to Capt. Stanley, his priority is two-fold: contributing to the country’s transport infrastructure buildup and sustainable development, and making Philippine Airlines worthy of Filipinos’ enduring trust and support.
“Giving back to the Philippines, giving back to the society – that’s really my purpose; not really trying to make a profit, a lot of profit out of PAL, but it’s really more of the purpose to continue providing the best service the Filipinos deserve.’”
