Taiwan’s China Airlines elects Wei chairman
Taiwan’s leading aircraft carrier China Airlines said Thursday its board had elected Philip Wei as the company chairman.
Wei, 66, who was chairman from November 2005 until he stepped down in October, replaces Ringo Chao, who resigned Monday after less than a year in the post.
Wei’s October resignation came two months after a China Airlines Boeing 737-800 burst into flames after landing in Okinawa, Japan. All of the passengers and crew evacuated the plane without serious injuries.
Local newspapers said the transport ministry — in effect the airline’s largest shareholder — hoped Wei would help the airline swing to profit.
“Regarding the company’s operation, we will centre on short-haul flights as the surging oil prices have especial negative impacts on long-haul flights,” Wei told reporters.
He vowed to further reform the company and continued to improve flight safety but said he was not mulling salary cuts or lay-offs.
The carrier early June cut its monthly flights by 10 percent to combat rising oil prices.
China Airlines posted a net loss of 2.97 billion Taiwan dollars (97.7 million US) for the first quarter to March.