Fernandez, Philippine Airlines’ executive vice president and chief operating officer, was elected chair and president, while Lao, Cebu Pacific’s president and chief commercial officer, was named vice chair, both for two-year terms.
The association also appointed Jose Enrique Perez de Tagle, a 40-year airline industry veteran and former Philippine Airlines corporate affairs chief, as executive director.
One voice for aviation issues
With new officers in place, ACAP said it aims to bring airlines together to speak with one voice on key industry concerns.
The group is pushing closer cooperation with government and other stakeholders to address airport congestion, infrastructure gaps, and regulatory challenges.
Leaders said collaboration is critical as passenger demand continues to grow across domestic and international routes.
Safety, growth, and scale
Safety remains the top priority, alongside efforts to improve efficiency and sustainability in airline operations.
That cooperation was put into practice last year when member airlines shared safety data and equipment to speed up mandatory Airbus A320 software updates, cutting aircraft downtime and passenger disruption.
In 2024, ACAP’s five member airlines carried more than 44.6 million passengers using a combined fleet of 194 aircraft, underscoring the group’s influence on Philippine aviation.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
