Zest flies Davao on March 1

Offers all-you-can-drink Zest-O juice on flights

DAVAO CITY — Zest Airways, Inc., formerly Asian Spirit Airlines, will launch its maiden flight on March 1, 2009 and intends to slug it out with Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific on Manila -Davao route.

The airline controlled by juice magnate Alfredo Yao, will offer competitive rates and dring all you can Zest-O juice drink in flight said Mark E. Hilario, Zest Air assistant vice-president for sales and marketing.

Neil Jason P. Ampo, passenger sales executive, said all the fleets of Asian Spirit had been mothballed since Zest Air decided that it was best for the airline to start fresh with new fleets of aircraft. The airline currently operates 2 airbus 320 with seat capacity of 162, and 4 56-seater Xian MA60 turbo prop airplane.

The airline is undeterred by the slowing economy and the price wars between bigger rivals Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.

Mr. Hilario said that the "The challenge really is how we can create a travel need through good package and competitive rates." Zest Air intends to offer a better service than what Cebu Pacific or Air Philippines currently does, and one of them is by offering drink all you can Zest-O juice drink in whatever flavor the passenger would like.

A promotional all-in rate of P1,698 will offered initially for the Manila-Davao route. But Mr. Ampo said the price would go up to P1,788 after the promotional period. Manila-Davao routes will be served by a 162-seater Airbus 320 and initially by a smaller 56-seater Xian MA60 turbo prop airplane.

A promotional all-in rate of P1,698 will offered initially for the Manila-Davao route. But Mr. Ampo said the price would go up to P1,788 after the promotional period.

Zest Air flies to Caticlan, Busuanga, Calbayog, Catarman, Legaspi, Marinduque, Naga, Puerto Princesa, San Jose and Virac from Manila aside from its regular routes to Tagbilaran, Tacloban, Iloilo, Cebu, Kalibo and Davao.

Mr. Hilario said Zest Air would also launch its Incheon service in May, although it will be a chartered flight to accommodate Korean tourists and students coming to the Philippines. It will be the airlines first international destination.

Zest Air is also applying for rights to fly Hong Kong and Guangzhou in China. It is also bent on serving the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area) route network, either or both from Zamboanga or Davao to Manado, Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan.