AirAsia Zest: Difference between revisions

| airline = AirAsia Zest

| logo = AirAsia Zest Logo.svg

| logo_size = 150px

| fleet_size = 15<ref name = stat>{{cite news|last=Camus|first=Miguel|title=AirAsia Zest launches flights to Miri, Malaysia to service OFWs|url=http://business.inquirer.net/148595/airasia-zest-launches-flights-to-miri-malaysia-to-service-ofws|access-date=October 24, 2013|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=October 21, 2013}}</ref>

| destinations = 13<ref name = stat />

'''Zest Airways, Inc.''', operated as '''AirAsia Zest''' (formerly '''Asian Spirit''' and '''Zest Air'''), was a [[Low-costPhilippines|Filipino]] carrier|[[low-cost airline]] based at the [[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]] in [[Pasay]], [[Metro Manila]] in the [[Philippines]]. It operated scheduled domestic and international tourist services, mainly feeder services linking Manila and [[Cebu]] with 24 domestic destinations in support of the trunk route operations of other airlines.

The airline was founded as '''Asian Spirit''', the first airline in the Philippines to be run as a [[cooperative]]. After its acquisition by AMY Holdings of businessman [[Alfredo Yao]] in 2008, the airline was rebranded as '''Zest Airways'''. In 2013, hethe airline was rebranded as '''AirAsia Zest''' and became an affiliate of [[Philippines AirAsia]] operating their brand separately.

The airline was merged intotogether with [[AirAsia Philippines to form [[Philippines AirAsia]] in 2015.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

It started operations in April 1996 with two second-hand [[de Havilland Canada Dash 7|Dash 7]] aircraft servicing only one scheduled commercial route with two flights per day from [[Manila]] to [[Malay, Aklan|Malay]], serving the fledgling resort island of [[Boracay]]. To maximise its aircraft utilisation, it introduced new routes to the present-day towns of [[San Jose, Occidental Mindoro|San Jose]], [[Virac, Catanduanes|Virac]], [[Daet, Camarines Norte|Daet]] and [[Alcantara, Romblon|Alcantara]], and the cities of [[Cauayan, CityIsabela|Cauayan]] and [[Masbate City|Masbate]], regarded as secondary and tertiary routes by Air Transportation Office, and not serviced by major airlines. In 1997, the cooperative changed to a corporate set-up with the establishment of Asian Spirit, Inc., whose registration was approved by the [[Securities and Exchange Commission (Philippines)|Securities and Exchange Commission]] in 2005.

In January 2008, Asian Spirit was sold to AMY Holdings, a holding company controlled by businessman [[Alfredo Yao]].<ref name="stake" /> The acquisition was completed on 29 March 29 of that year.<ref name="takeover">{{Cite news|title=Asian Spirit sold for 'around P1B' |date=March 29, 2008 |first=Ma. Stella F. |last=Arnaldo |work=BusinessMirror |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/03/29/08/asian-spirit-sold-around-p1b |access-date=November 1, 2022 |via=ABS-CBN News}}</ref> After the success of the takeover, Yao expressed interest in merging Asian Spirit with [[South East Asian Airlines]] (SEAIR).<ref name="merger">{{Cite news|title=SEAIR, Asian Spirit merger looms; streamlining eyed |work=BusinessWorld |date=April 14, 2008 |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/content/89231/seair-asian-spirit-merger-looms-streamlining-eyed/story/ |access-date=November 1, 2022 |via=GMA News}}</ref> Yao had been expected to purchase a sixty percent stake in SEAIR,<ref name="stake">[http://www.eturbonews.com/937/yao-group-acquire-asian-spirit Yao Group to acquire Asian Spirit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214083842/http://www.eturbonews.com/937/yao-group-acquire-asian-spirit |date=February 14, 2008 }}, [[Manila Bulletin]], January 21, 2008</ref> but the merger talks failed and both airlines continued to operate independently.<ref name="takeover" />

On 30 September 30, 2008, Asian Spirit announced that it would be re-branding itself as Zest Airways to reflect the stake of the owner, [[Zest-O Corporation]], in the airline.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Asian Spirit now called Zest Airways |date=September 30, 2008 |first=Don Gil K. |last=Carreon |work=BusinessWorld |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/123855/asian-spirit-now-called-zest-airways/story/ |access-date=November 1, 2022 |via=GMA News}}</ref> In 2009, Zest Airways intended to establish a hub at [[Clark International Airport|Diosdado Macapagal International Airport]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/213962/zest-air-eyes-dmia-hub-int-l-flights|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817230608/http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/213962/zest-air-eyes-dmia-hub-int-l-flights|archivedate=August 17, 2009|title=Zest Air eyes DMIA as hub for int'l flights|date=August 2, 2009|newspaper=Manila Bulletin}}</ref>

===Partnership with AirAsia and rebranding as AirAsia Zestmerger===

On 11 March 11, 2013, Zest Airways signed a share swap agreement with [[AirAsia Philippines]]. The share swap deal involved exchange of shares between the owner of Zest Airways, Filipino shareholders of AirAsia Philippines, Inc. and AirAsia Berhad of Malaysia.<ref>{{cite webnews|url=http://business.inquirer.net/111537/airasia-to-acquire-40-of-zest-air |title=AirAsia to acquire 40% of Zest Air |worknewspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=March 11, 2013 |access-date=January 17, 2014}}</ref> On the same day, the airlines announced a strategic alliance that would integrate the operations of both airlines while still operating as separate entities.<ref>{{cite webnews|url=http://business.inquirer.net/111789/airasia-zest-sign-dream-alliance |title=AirAsia, Zest sign 'dream alliance |worknewspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=March 11, 2013 |access-date=January 17, 2014}}</ref> The deal closed on 10 May 10, 2013.<ref>{{Cite news|title=AirAsia now controls Zest Air |work=ABS-CBN News |date=May 24, 2013 |access-date=November 1, 2022 |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/24/13/airasia-now-controls-zest-air}}</ref>

On 16 August 16, 2013, the [[Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines]] (CAAP) suspended the airline's [[air operating certificate]] due to safety issues.<ref>{{cite webnews|url=http://business.inquirer.net/138721/zest-air-suspended-due-to-safety-issues |title=Zest Air suspended due to safety breaches |worknewspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=16 August 2013 |access-date=18 November 2022}}</ref> The suspension was lifted on 20 August 20.<ref>{{Cite news|title=CAAP clears all 11 Zest Air planes |work=ABS-CBN News |date=August 22, 2013 |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/08/22/13/caap-clears-all-11-zest-air-planes |access-date=18 November 2022}}</ref>

Less than a year after the strategic alliance with [[AirAsia Philippines]], on 21 September 21, the airline was rebranded as "AirAsia Zest". During its initial phases, ZestAir's website carried an image of an aircraft featuring AirAsia's signature red livery and the Zest title on the body and AirAsia's signature red livery on the tail. The rebranded airline has a new theme "AirAsia Zest, the right way to fly."<ref>{{Cite news|title=AirAsia, ZestAir launch rebranded airline |first=Lawrence |last=Agcaoili |work=The Philippine Star |date=September 21, 2013 |url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/09/21/13/airasia-zestair-launch-rebranded-airline |via=ABS-CBN News}}</ref>

{{main|List of AirAsia Group destinations|List of Zest Airways destinations}}

|! style="text-alignbackground:centerred;" color:white;"|14City

|! style="text-alignbackground:centerred;" color:white;"|180Airport

===Fleet history===

|[[McDonnell Douglas MD-80|McDonnell Douglas MD-82]]

|[[McDonnell Douglas MD-80|McDonnell Douglas MD-83]]

==IncidentsAccidents and accidentsincidents==

* OnDecember 7 December, 1999,: [[Asian Spirit Flight 100]], a Let L-410, crashed between [[Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya|Kasibu]] in [[Nueva Vizcaya]] and [[Cabarroguis, Quirino|Cabarroguis]] in [[Quirino]], killing all 15 passengers on board and 2 crew. The plane was headed for [[Cauayan Airport]] in [[Cauayan, CityIsabela|Cauayan]]. The accident forced the closure of the Manila-Cauayan route, which remained closed until Philippine Airlines restarted the route on 15 August 15, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19991207-0&lang=en|title=ASN Aviation Safety Database|date=December 7, 1999|access-date=April 7, 2007|publisher=aviation-safety.net}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/553722.stm|title=Philippines crash claims 17 lives|access-date= April 7, 2007|date= December 8, 1999|work= BBC News}}</ref>

* OnJanuary 11 January, 2009,: a [[Xian MA60]] operated crashed at [[Caticlan Airport]] while trying to land. The aircraft landed too short on the runway, skidded out of control and crashed into a concrete barrier. The aircraft caught fire and suffered extensive damage to its wing, landing gear, undercarriage and one engine. Several passengers were injured in that accident.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/picture-zest-ma60-crashes-on-landing-in-philippines-320907/ |title=PICTURE: Zest MA60 crashes on landing in Philippines |work=Flight International |date=January 12, 2009 }}</ref>

* OnJune 25 June, 2009,: a Xian MA60 operated by Zest overshot the runway while trying to land at Caticlan airportAirport. As a consequence of this accident, the runway was lengthened and a hill that obstructs one of its approaches was flattened.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/philippines-zest-ma60-overshoots-runway-at-caticlan-328812/ |title=Philippines' Zest MA60 overshoots runway at Caticlan |work=Flight International |date=June 25, 2009 }}</ref>

* OnDecember 30 December, 2014,: [[AirAsia Zest Flight 272]], an [[Airbus A320-216200]] registered RP-C8972, overshot the runway during landing at [[Kalibo International Airport]]. All 159 passengers and crew survived uninjured.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/airasia-flight-overshoots-runway-in-kalibo-philippines-20141230-12frjj.html |title= AirAsia flight overshoots runway in Kalibo, Philippines |date=December 31, 2014 }}</ref>