A smooth transition

MAS looks for leadership stability with new local CEO

When the heads of Asia’s major airlines gathered in Taiwan’s capital Taipei late October for their annual talkfest, the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) Assembly of Presidents, there was one notable absentee.

With good reason. The now former chief of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Peter Bellew was instead heading back to his Irish homeland to take up a new job as Chief Operating Officer of budgeteer Ryanair after accepting what everyone is convinced was an offer he couldn’t refuse.