Zest Air improves cargo system

Zest Air has reported a big improvement in the efficiency of its cargo operations due largely to the automation of its system.

Automation enabled the company to offer better and faster cargo services, airline president and CEO Alfredo M. Yao said in a statement.

Yao said Zest Air was able to ship about 15.2 million kilograms of cargo last year because of its more efficient cargo operations.

“Processing of airway bills is now faster and transaction time has been greatly reduced since we automated our cargo system,” said Yao.

He said cargo was shipped out on a first-come-first-served basis. No additional premium is levied on cargo that is airlifted on the first flight, unlike in other carriers that charge higher for their earliest flights.

Dody Ramirez, senior vice president for cargo and logistics, said it was more convenient for customers to monitor their shipments because they could easily check their status and whereabouts online, “Zest Air is the only domestic carrier that offers this convenience at the moment. With others, you have to go through a forwarder to check on your cargo.”

“Most of our regular shippers used other carriers before but said they shifted to us when they found our rates more competitive and our services more attuned to their needs,” Ramirez added.

Zest Air has a current fleet of eight Airbus A320 aircraft, one A319, and three MA60s, which have cargo space of 37.4 cu. meters for both A320 and A319, and 9.5 cu. meters for the MA60.