Zest Air starts first direct int’l flight from Manila

MANILA, Philippines—Zest Air has started flying direct from Manila to Quanzhou and Jinjiang, China.

“The fruits of our hard work to operate Zest Air’s first direct international flight from Manila are now finally ready for the harvest,” Zest Air president and CEO Alfredo M. Yao said in a statement.

Although already operating five international flights since 2010, the Quanzhou, Jinjiang service is Zest Air’s first International flight direct from Manila.

Zest Air currently flies to Incheon and Pusan (Korea), Shanghai and Beijing (China) and Taipei, Taiwan from Kalibo and Cebu International Airports.

More direct international flights from Manila are scheduled this year—Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Shanghai, China; and Incheon, Korea.

Zest Air is also planning to resume its flights to Hong Kong and open a Singapore route.

“Zest Air will be using the spacious and wide-legroom Airbus 320 (A320) with 180-seating configuration. The sector will be initially operated three times a week—every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday—and will be increased accordingly depending on market demand,” Yao said.

The two-and-a-half flight leaves Manila for Quanzhou at 9:10 a.m. The return flight to Manila leaves at 2 p.m.

Zest Air will initially operate at the NAIA Terminal 3 until the end of April and will resume its Manila-Quanzhou, Jinjiang at the Terminal 4 (Manila Domestic Airport) while airport authorities will prepare NAIA 3 for international operations.

Zest Air presently flies to 19 domestic destinations and six international destinations. It has a current fleet of 14 aircraft.