Zest Air under ‘heightened’ surveillance

MANILA, Philippines – Zest Airways has been placed under “heightened” surveillance by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) after mechanical problems forced the budget carrier to cancel flights during the past weeks.

CAAP deputy director general John Andrews confirmed in a text message that the airline of juice magnate Alfredo Yao is under “heightened surveillance over cancelled flights.”

Zest Air cancelled 8 flights on Thursday (August 1) alone due to “aircraft situation.” In July, the carrier cancelled a total of 33 flights, mostly in Kalibo.

Andrews said CAAP would monitor Zest Air’s maintenance program. “We will have to check it before they are sanctioned.”

Zest Air has a fleet of 10 Airbus A320s and one A319 flying to 9 domestic and 5 international destinations via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport as well as hubs in Kalibo and Cebu.

The airline flies to Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban, and Tagbilaran. Its overseas destinations include Shanghai, Jinjiang, Incheon, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuala Lumpur.

In May, Yao entered into a deal with Philippines’ AirAsia Inc., unit of AirAsia Berhad of Malaysia, giving the latter 85% economic interest and 49% voting interest in Zest Air as well as 100% interest in Asiawide Airways Inc.

In exchange, Yao got cash and 13% interest in PH AirAsia, which operates out of the Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

CAAP placed Zest Air under surveillance as it works to enhance aviation safety standards.

The regulator recently required Gokongwei-owned budget carrier Cebu Pacific to comply with a corrective action plan following two runway mishaps involving its planes in June.

CAAP wants to increase turnaround time of domestic flights to 45 minutes by October. – Rappler.com