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Domestic carrier Zest Air kicked-off on October its daily flights to Hong Kong from the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) via an inaugural flight to the former Crown Colony.

DMIA-Hong Kong daily flight inaugurated. Officials of the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), the Department of Tourism and Zest Air cut the ribbon formally inaugurating the daily flights of Zest Air to Hong Kong from the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in the Clark Freeport: (L-R) CIAC President and CEO Victor Jose Luciano; Zest Air Executive Vice-President and COO Capt. Eliseo Tabora; CIAC Executive Vice-President and COO Alexander Cauguiran; CIAC Chairman Nestor Mangio; and, Tourism Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab.

Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) President and CEO Victor Jose I. Luciano, CIAC Chairman Nestor Mangio, Subic Clark Alliance for Development Council (SCADC) Sec. Edgardo Pamintuan, Zest Air Executive Vice-President and COO Capt. Eliseo Tabora and CIAC Executive Vice-President and COO Alexander Cauguiran led the ceremony for the Zest Air inaugural flight at the DMIA VIP Lounge at 3 pm.

Welcome to DMIA, Zest Air. Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) President and CEO Victor Jose Luciano welcome guests as well as Zest Air during the ceremony for the inaugural flight of the airline to Hong Kong on Saturday. The ceremony and inaugural flight kicks off the daily service of the newest local airline to the former Crown Colony.

Zest Air, formerly Asian Spirit, used its brand new Airbus 320 with a seating capacity of 166 passengers for the inaugural flight. The aircraft arrived at the DMIA at around 3 pm and left at around 5 pm, formally launching its daily flights to Hong Kong and signaling the start of the airlines’ full commercial operations at the Clark airport.

Zest Air arrives at DMIA for inaugural flight. A marshal prepares to assist Zest Air Flight Z2 284 that arrived at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) for its inaugural flight to Hong Kong on Saturday, kicking off its daily service to the Special Administrative Region of China from the DMIA

Zest Air is the second local air carrier to have commercial international operations at the DMIA. The carrier also operates Clark-Caticlan flights on Thursdays and Saturdays for people who would want to visit the world-famous Boracay Beach Island Resort in the Visayas. Interested parties may log on to the Zest Air website, www.zestair.com.ph, for bookings and information.

Zest Air arrives at DMIA for inaugural flight. Ground handling staff standby as a marshal assists an aircraft of Zest Air as it parks at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) on Saturday for its inaugural flight to Hong Kong. The flight kicked off the daily service of the newest local airline to Hong Kong from the DMIA.

“We welcome Zest Air’s international operations at DMIA and CIAC fully supports their endeavor that will further boost the development of the airport,” Luciano said, adding that the DMIA has been declared by no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the country’s Premier International Airport after the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila.

Passengers of the Zest Air Inaugural Flight Z2 284 to Hong Kong pose for posterity to be part of another milestone for the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in the Clark Freeport. The inaugural flight on Saturday kicked off the daily flights of the newest local airline to Hong Kong SAR

Zest Air started Southeast Asian flights in June 2009 to Singapore, Macau, Hong Kong, Incheon in South Korea, Fukuoka and Okinawa in Japan and 20 domestic flights to 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.

Passengers board the Zest Air inaugural flight that kicked off the daily service of the airline from the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in the Clark Freeport to Hong Kong.

In March 2008, AMY Holdings Corporation 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 (SEC) approved the corporate name of Zest Air and the judicial personality of Zest Airways Inc. was established. (CIAC-Public Affairs)