Zest Air to launch daily Hong Kong flights from Clark starting Oct. 24

CLARK FREE PORT, Pampanga—Domestic carrier Zest Air is slated to launch its daily flights to Hong Kong via its inaugural international flight on October 24 from the bustling Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).

Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) president and CEO Victor Jose Luciano, Zest Air president and CEO Ambassador Alfredo Yao, and Subic Clark Alliance for Development Council Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan will lead the ceremony for the Zest Air inaugural flight at the DMIA VIP Lounge at 3 p.m.

For its inaugural flight, Zest Air, formerly Asian Spirit, will be using its brand-new Airbus 320 with a seating capacity of 166 passengers. The aircraft will arrive at the DMIA at 2:30 p.m. and leave at 3:50 p.m., formally inaugurating its daily flights to Hong Kong and signaling the start of its full commercial operations at the Clark Free Port.

A seat on the inaugural flight on October 24 costs only $70 as part of the promotion of the Zest Air inaugural Flight Z2-083 to Hong Kong.

Zest Air passenger Flight Z2-083 will fly in from Manila to the DMIA at 2:30 p.m. to pick up passengers bound for Hong Kong. The aircraft is expected to arrive at the Hong Kong International Airport at about 5:40 p.m., where passengers would be treated to a short welcome at the airport.

Zest Air is the second local air carrier to have commercial international operations at the DMIA. The carrier also operates Clark-Caticlan flights for people who would want to visit the world-famous Boracay Beach Island Resort in the Visayas.

“We welcome Zest Air’s international operations at DMIA. CIAC supports their endeavor that will further boost the development of the airport,” Luciano said, adding that the DMIA has been declared by President Arroyo as the country’s premier international airport after the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.

Zest Air started Southeast Asian flights in June to Singapore; Macau; Hong Kong; Incheon in South Korea; Fukuoka and Okinawa in Japan; and 20 domestic destinations that include Bacolod, Boracay, Busuanga, Cagayan de Oro, Calbayog, Catarman, Cebu, Clark, Davao, Iloilo, Kalibo, Manila, Legazpi, Naga, Puerto Princesa, Tabales, Tacloban, Tagbilaran and Virac.

In March 2008, AMY Holdings Corp. established Zest Airways Inc. as it sees the opportunity for growth in the airline and aviation industry in the country. In September 2008, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved the corporate name of Zest Air and the judicial personality of Zest Airways Inc. was established . Written by Jacob Cunanan Business Mirror Correspondent