5J, 6K formally applies Mideast Route

Cebu Pacific and Zest Airways to fly the Middle East

March 5, 2009

Manila- Low cost carriers Cebu Pacific and Zest airways formally sought regulatory approval from the Civil Aeronautics Board to fly to the Middle Eastern cities of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Kuwait.

In filing with the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), Cebu Pacific said it wants to serve the rising number of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and tourists in Dubai and Abu Dhabi via leased Boeing 777 aircraft. Zest Airways, formerly Asian Spirit, is also seeking a permit to fly three times weekly from Manila to Kuwait using a lease Boeing 767-300. It also wants to fly three times weekly from Manila to Dubai.

The airlines plans to start flights to Dubai and Kuwait by July. Cebu Pacific and Zest Air want to be the official Philippine carriers to United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait respectively. The request will be endorsed to both respective countries for their approval.

The budget carriers are aiming the new allocation of entitlements under the recently concluded Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BSAA) as defined under the confidential memorandum of agreement between the countries of the UAE, Kingdom of Kuwait and the Philippines.