AirAsia Zest launches flights to Miri, Malaysia to service OFWs

AirAsia Zest, the domestic unit of Malaysia’s AirAsia Berhad, is launching its Manila to Miri, Malaysia route as it seeks to widen its presence abroad, a statement on Monday showed.

The airline, which would be the first to fly from Manila to Miri, famous for its rainforests and limestone formations, said the promo fare will start at P460, one way.

“AirAsia Zest is pleased to announce that we are the first and only airline servicing Manila to Miri route,  giving our passengers and OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) access to this majestic city,” AirAsia Zest executive vice president and chief operating officer Joy Caneba said.

Guests who will avail themselves of this promo will be able to travel from Dec. 7, 2013 to April 14, 2014, the statement showed.

“AirAsia Zest’s brand of air travel is characterized by efficiency and good service and we are all geared up to welcome our guest to this new route on Dec. 7, when we commence operations,” Caneba said.

AirAsia Zest flights from Manila to Kota Kinabalu will also increase in frequency from 4 times to 14 times weekly effective Dec. 1, according to Caneba.

The newly rebranded airline has also announced that it will launch new flights from Cebu’s Mactan International Airport to Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 1 and to domestic destinations of Puerto Princesa (Palawan), Davao and Cagayan de Oro on Nov. 15.

Miri is the second largest city in the Malaysian state of Sarawak in Borneo. The discovery of oil 100 years ago transformed Miri from a quiet fishing village into a wealthy city.

ZestAir was recently been rebranded as AirAsia Zest to reflect its partnership with AirAsia, the largest low-cost carrier in the region.

AirAsia Zest, meanwhile, operates a fleet of 13 aircraft and services nine domestic and four international routes from Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The move came as Air Asia Philippines, an affiliate of AirAsia Zest, suspended its flights out of Clark International Airport to support the operations of AirAsia Zest.

Air Asia Philippines CEO Marianne Hontiveros said flights from Clark to Hong Kong would temporarily resume for the Christmas holidays.