A light bulb moment

PAL boss’s move to operate airports

A Philippines liquor tycoon and executives from Britain’s air traffic management provider NATS (National Air Traffic Services) may appear strange bedfellows but it seems that’s not the case.

Apparently Ramon S Ang, president of Philippine Airlines (PAL), which is controlled by his San Miguel brewery empire, and NATS officials have been holding talks with a view to mixing a cocktail that could see them jointly running some Philippines airports. This was disclosed in March at a media dinner held in Manila by the UK’s ambassador Asif Ahmad, who said the talks were sparked last November when Ang and NATS executives met aboard PAL’s inaugural flight to London following the lifting of a safety ban that had previously been imposed by European authorities. NATS officials have since visited the Philippines for further talks.