China Airlines, Taiwan's largest carrier, re-appointed Philip Wei as chairman less than a year after he quit following an accident.

Wei, 66, succeeded Ringo Chao today, spokesman Bruce Chen said in Taipei. Chao resigned earlier this week, having overseen the start of regular flights to the mainland.

Wei faces a battle to return China Airlines to profit as the carrier trims capacity 10 percent in a bid to cope with fuel costs that have roughly doubled in a year. He quit the airline in October after one of its plane burst into flames on landing in Japan.

China Airlines said in June that it was cutting about 150 flights a month, predominately to the U.S. and Asia because of surging fuel costs. It posted a wider than expected first-quarter loss of NT$2.97 billion ($98 million) as higher fuel prices eroded gains from rising sales.

The carrier, along with 10 other mainland and Taiwanese airlines, began regular cross-strait flights on July 4 following the easing of a 59-year-old restriction on services. Chao submitted his resignation three days later, saying he had completed his job.

Chao's departure also followed a change of government on the island and Ma Ying-jeou's assumption of the presidency in May. China Airlines is controlled by a government-backed foundation.