AirAsia Aviation Group Limited (AAAGL) named Captain Suresh Bangah as the new president and general manager (GM) of AirAsia Philippines as the budget airline embarks on a new era of sustainable growth.
A seasoned aviation professional with almost 30 years of experience, Captain Bangah brings extensive operational expertise and a strong leadership track record at AirAsia. He succeeds Ricky Isla, who retires after six years at the helm and will continue to serve as chief advisor to the GM during the leadership transition.
Bangah 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 began his AirAsia journey in 2003 as a first officer, pilot instructor and an auditor, progressing to senior leadership roles across AirAsia X and AAAGL.
“Captain Suresh steps into this role at an important juncture. 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,’ said Bo Lingam, group chief executive of AirAsia Aviation Group.
“With extensive management and industry experience—particularly in upholding the gold standard in safety and operational excellence, and a deep commitment to guest-centricity and Allstar values, Captain Suresh is well placed to build on the strong foundations laid by his predecessor, Ricky Isla,” he said.
Under Isla’s leadership, Lingam said the airline navigated one of the most turbulent periods in aviation history—stabilizing operations, keeping its people grounded in purpose, and restoring confidence in the brand.
“We thank him for his steady leadership and are grateful that he will continue to support the transition as advisor,” he said.
AirAsia Philippines flew almost seven million guests in 2024. 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.
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.
“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. In this role, I am committed to leading our talented team of Allstars to elevate our operations while raising the bar on the end-to-end guest experience,” Bangah said.
“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, we remain 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 said.
