Japan Airlines has appointed Yoshiharu Ueki as president.
Ueki, a former pilot who has served JAL for over 30 years, was previously responsible for the airline’s route network. He replaces Masaru Onishi, who becomes chairman. Current chairman Kazuo Inamori will become chairman emeritus until his planned exit next year. Inamori pledged to stay at the airline for three years after being named to guide the emergence from bankruptcy.
Ueki told reporters that the key challenge for the next year will be the planned Initial Public Offering slated for the third quarter. In January 2013, the airline will need to be on a stable footing as its current backers, the state-backed Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corp. of Japan, which owns 97% of JAL, must sell its stake by then some three years after it provided the equity to support the restructuring of the airline after it filed for bankruptcy.
In the more immediate future, JAL is introducing a new route between Tokyo and Boston on April 22, which will be served using a 787 aircraft.
JAL appoints Ueki as president
