The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has appointed Wong Hong as its next director general, effective April 1, 2026, succeeding Subhas Menon, whol will step down after leading the association since 2020.
Wong Hong has over 22 years of international aviation experience, having held senior commercial roles in network planning, revenue management and sales at Singapore Airlines and Delta Air Lines.
Most recently, he served as Delta Air Lines’ President for China, based in Shanghai, where he oversaw the carrier’s operations and partnership with China Eastern Airlines.
According to AAPA, his career includes overseas postings in China, India, Thailand and Vietnam, along with earlier roles in ground handling and catering at SATS and in distribution and financial services at IATA, providing him with broad regional experience relevant to the position.
Through the Executive Committee, Wong will report to the AAPA Assembly of Presidents and represent the interests of the Association and its member airlines on aviation policy issues, working with member carriers and other industry stakeholders.
The AAPA represents international airlines based in the Asia Pacific region and works with regulators and industry stakeholders on policies related to safe, sustainable and competitive air transport.
AAPA currently has 18 member airlines, including major international carriers such as Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qantas, and Air India.
"It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as AAPA Director General, and I am grateful for the trust and collaboration of our member airlines over the past six years," Menon, current director general of AAPA, said.
"With Asia Pacific as the world’s largest aviation market, I am confident that AAPA will continue to thrive under Wong Hong's leadership as the Association navigates a rapidly evolving aviation landscape," he added.
Reflecting on the association's recent leadership and future direction, AAPA Chairman 2025 and President of Bangkok Airways, Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, stated: "On behalf of our member airlines, I would like to thank Subhas Menon for his dedication and strong leadership of the AAPA over the past six years. Under his guidance, AAPA has strengthened its advocacy efforts and deepened engagement with regulators and industry partners during a period of significant change for the aviation sector. "
"Notably, he successfully grew the AAPA membership to 18 member airlines, despite challenging circumstances during the COVID pandemic. As a widely respected organisation within the global aviation community, AAPA is well-positioned to benefit from Wong Hong's extensive regional experience, strategic insight and deep industry knowledge. We warmly welcome him and look forward to working closely together."
Wong, for his part, also welcomed the new role: "I am honoured to be entrusted with this role and look forward to working closely with our member airlines and industry stakeholders."
"The Asia Pacific region is central to global aviation, and I am committed to building on AAPA's strong foundation as we work together to support the sustainable growth and competitiveness of our region's industry," he added.
