“Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings”– Salvador Dali
Mandy Ng is intelligent, ambitious and now she is in command of 24 sets of wings. The first woman CEO of a Hong Kong airline has been in charge at HKExpress for a month. The airline is the sole low-cost carrier operating from Chek Lap Kok and the budget flyers’ market awaits with interest innovations to be expected from HK Express’s new owners and boss.
Cathay Pacific completed acquisition of HKExpress for HK$4.93 billion about two months ago. Then Chief Executive Rupert Hogg, in one of his last acts before Beijing started to threaten Cathay Pacific, said, “HKExpress will continue to operate as a stand-alone airline using the low-cost carrier business model.” Examples of fares the carrier is now quoting: to Bangkok from HK$398, Da Nang $398, Siem Reap $598, Tokyo $798, Osaka $798. HKExpress’s aircraft are all A320s or A321s seating 180 to 230. Twenty-seven destinations are currently served with scheduled flights.
Mandy Ng joined Cathay Pacific 20 years ago as a management trainee. The Group shifts people seen as potential high flyers frequently so they broaden their experience. Ms Ng became Manager Airline Planning in charge of analysing and making recommendations on all aspects of the airline’s business. She also held positions, including General Manager Business Development, at the parent Swire Pacific. After HKExpress became a wholly owned subsidiary of Cathay Ms Ng was appointed to the transaction team. Then Ronald Lam was CEO; now he becomes Chairman.
Casino mogul Stanley Ho founded Hong Kong Express in 2004. HNA Group, troubled owner of Hainan Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines, became a 45 per cent shareholder in 2006. Six years later the airline announced it was changing its name to HKExpress and moving into the low-cost carrier market.
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