​Hong Kong’s embattled flagship airline carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has announced the appointment of Mandy Ng as the new CEO of the budget airline HK Express with immediate effect, as a result of the management shuffle in the airline group, following a PR blowout stemming from Hong Kong’s ongoing protests.  

Ng will become the first female CEO to lead a local airline as she takes over from former CEO Ronald Lam, who will be assuming the chairmanship of HK Express.

Lam has returned to the parent airline Cathay Pacific as chief customer and commercial officer in order to replace Paul Loo who resigned along with company CEO Rupert Hogg last Friday, after a series of controversial events in regard to the extradition bill protests. Hogg’s vacancy was swiftly filled by the CEO of Swire Group’s Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (HAECO), Augustus Tang. 

The company described Ng as a veteran of the airline business, having spent 17 years with Cathay Pacific. Before joining HK Express, Ng had been general manager for business development at Swire Pacific since July 2018. She began her career with the Cathay Pacific Group as a management trainee in 1999 and has since held a variety of positions involving planning, revenue, and sales in Hong Kong, Thailand, and Malaysia. 

One of her key roles was being the airline’s manager of airline planning, where she was responsible for overseeing scheduling, departure and arrival slots, aircraft deployment, and profit optimisation for the carrier’s fleet of more than 200 passenger and cargo aircraft.

Ng also spent several years working in sales and revenue management, in particular overseeing cargo sales and market development, as well as overseeing revenue maximisation across the airline’s network. She also led sales forces in Hong Kong, Macau, and the Pearl River Delta as a passenger sales manager.

Lam stated that Ng has played a key role in ensuring a smooth transition following its acquisition by Cathay Pacific. 

“Our commitment towards HK Express operating as a stand-alone low-cost airline remains unchanged. Ensuring continuity in HK Express’ business direction is of paramount importance,” said Lam. “Mandy and I will work closely together to lead HK Express into an exciting future for our people and our customers.”