Top executive of Philippine Airlines said the firm was “in talks” with an investor to help it achieve the goal of becoming a 5-star carrier by 2020. PAL president and COO Jaime Bautista described the talks as "very preliminary," while declining to give additional details. Taking a partner, either for money or for strategic purposes, like another airline, has always been in the cards since taipan Lucio Tan retook full control of the carrier in 2014. PAL has been in an on-again, off-again talks with foreign groups, and in more recent interviews, Bautista said the carrier was more keen on bolstering its business and valuation rather than considering investors. Bautista said previously a strategic partner made sense for PAL, which is seeking to expand its presence globally. <br/>
unaligned
The CE of Italy’s Meridiana has announced he is stepping down after less than 18 months in the post. The news of Richard Creagh’s impending departure comes as the loss-making Meridiana attempts to get into shape in advance of a deal in which Qatar Airways is seeking to take a substantial minority stake in the carrier. Meridiana said Creagh would continue as executive advisor for the next 6 months to facilitate a smooth transition in the airline’s management. Creagh, a former EVP at Ukraine International Airlines and strategic development manager at Aer Lingus, was appointed as Meridiana CE in Nov 2014. “Having turned around the performance of the airline in 2015, my role in the turnaround plan is almost completed,” Creagh said. <br/>