ASIAN SPIRIT under new management [Archive]

ads1963

7th May 2008, 11:21

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=117413

Asian Spirit plane's propeller falls off mid-air

One of the four propellers of an Asian Spirit passenger aircraft fell to the ground while the plane was mid-air in Masbate province, radio dzMM reported.

Correspondent Zenny Silva said the left wing propeller fell off as the plane with flight number 6K 321 and tail number RPC 2195-7 was made its way to the runway Tuesday morning.

Passengers said the aircraft made it safely to the ground with three propellers. No one was reported hurt among the 49 passengers and two crewmen.

As of last report, the plane is stranded at the airport in Masbate.

Officials at the Manila Domestic Airport said they have yet to receive a report on the incident.

Asian Spirit management, meanwhile, also has yet to issue a statement.

The incident on Tuesday came in the wake of another Asian Spirit plane that overshot the runway also in Masbate in January this year.

No one was hurt among the aircraft's 43 passengers, the airline said.

The new owner might have some real serious problems on hand!

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080502-134061/Asian-Spirit-flights-to-Bora-delayed-8-hrs

Asian Spirit flights to Bora delayed 8 hrs

Luli Arroyo takes chopper
By Tarra Quismundo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:36:00 05/02/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Holiday travelers lost their cool at the Manila domestic airport Thursday when they found out that they would not be able to make it to Boracay on schedule but would have to wait for hours.
Only two of the usual five Asian Spirit aircraft bound for Caticlan were able to fly, a spokesperson said.
At least 416 passengers, including President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's daughter Luli, sat for between four and eight hours inside the crammed and humid terminal building.
Airport security chief Angel Atutubo said that Luli waited from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Restless passengers
Asian Spirit ad and promo manager Trina Francisco said Luli took a helicopter in the afternoon but she did not know where she went.
Commotions broke out from time to time as restless passengers engaged the airline's service desk, demanding to know when they could depart. Discussions became so heated at times that police had to step in to pacify the passengers.
Only 2 planes available
Francisco said only two planes were flying from Manila to Caticlan and back on a heavy travel day.
"Two are working, two planes are down and one was chartered for Macau ... and passenger safety is our priority," Francisco told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net).
Diverted
"A lot of people are angry, we understand that and we apologize, we're very sorry for the inconvenience. It's unfortunate for us that this happened on a Labor Day weekend, when a lot of things are going on in Boracay," she said.
The flights had to be diverted to Kalibo, at least an hour by land from Caticlan, as the latter's airport lacked night navigation equipment for landings and takeoffs. Francisco said the airline would shoulder the passengers' shuttle expenses from Kalibo to Caticlan.
"My friends who caught an earlier flight were surprised when the pilot announced that they had landed in Kalibo. They were not even told that they were landing there instead of Caticlan, and that's another hour or so by land," said Jeff Rios, who booked his Boracay flight with seven of his friends in March.
No options given
His group was supposed to be on a five-day holiday but the delays cut their vacation short.
"The delay wasted our hotel booking for today. They should have given us options, like if we wanted to book for another day, instead of holding us here. They just told us not to leave the departure area and that the plane had a delayed turnaround," Rios said.
'Out of control'
Another passenger said: "They keep announcing the planes are having a late turnaround ... are they coming from Taiwan?"
Maritess Serrano, another vacationer, was supposed to leave at 1:30 p.m. but her flight was pushed back throughout the day.
"They said it's out of their control because the flights were full. We were advised at check-in that the flights will be delayed by 30 minutes to an hour, and that was OK with me ... But I didn't realize it was going to be this long," Serrano said.
Cebu Pacific flights bound for several Visayas and Mindanao destinations also suffered delays of between 10 minutes and an hour as power fluctuations slowed down check-in at the old domestic terminal, said airline spokesperson Candice Iyog.

win_faa

22nd May 2008, 07:38

Asian Spirit "fly as Asians, land as Spirits" thats what they say :eek:

thrust clb

22nd May 2008, 11:42

Another rich dude with no experience in aviation. They never learn...look at Transglobal, Taair, Pacific Pearl and in the late 90's ..Star Asia.

Where are they going to get Pilots? Even newly minted 250-hour cpl's know an ATR or a DASH-8 rating is much more marketable world-wide than a China-made MA-60's.

Well at least if it doesn't work out , they can convert all those aluminum to zesto in cans? :ugh:

ads1963

24th May 2008, 13:16

Guessing from "industry rumors" Asian Spirit is getting the MA-60 just because it is cheap and it probably a political "deal".

No Pilot in his right mind will pay for his conversion training for a MA-60. Who will take him with the rating? There are maybe just a handful of MA-60 operating outside China and which of these are paying well?

According to wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xian_MA60 there are the following operators outside China:

Merpati Nusantara Airlines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merpati_Nusantara_Airlines)
Lao Airlines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lao_Airlines)
Zambian Air Force
unknown carrier in the Republic of Congo
Air Zimbabwe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Zimbabwe)

and than Asian Spirit.

the homepage of the MA-60 is super noisy http://www.ma60.com/, hope the aircraft is not.

The two Pratt&Whitney PW-127J turboprop engines rated at 2880 eshp each are very common engines and maybe the avionics look Western.

Nobody knows anything about flying characteristics etc.

The cockpit looks like a 80's cockpit

http://www.ma60.com/Content/Images_Content/561_1145_19.gif

I just can not make up my mind if the design looks like a Y-7 or an old Herald. :ugh::ugh::ugh:

http://www.ma60.com/Content/Images_Content/542_1183_DSC_008.gif

ads1963

26th May 2008, 07:23

Just got this news from a friend in the Philippines:

Gatchalian eyes new airline

Plastics king William Gatchalian wants to go back to the airline business two decades after he sold Air Philippines to taipan Lucio Tan, who also owns Philippine Airlines.
Industry sources said Gatchalian had tapped close associate Sergio Ortiz-Luis as chairman for his new airline venture, while another ally, Miguel Varela, will sit as board director.
Ortiz-Luis confirmed the report but said talks were preliminary.
Ortiz-Luis, president of the Philippine Exporters Confederation, is also a director of Gatchalian’s Waterfront Group.
Gatchalian plans to make a comeback in the airline business on a personal capacity.
Ricky Ricardo of the Waterfront Group’s corporate affairs office issued a disclaimer that the businessman’s hotel and leisure company had nothing to do with the plans.
“As far as I know, the idea of going back to the airline business was never brought up in the Waterfront Group level. The group remains focused on its core business on hotels, leisure and services. We have exited the airline business a long time ago, and it makes more sense for us to continue staying out of that business,” said Ricardo. Gatchalian in earlier interviews signified a continued interest in the airline business after he sold his shares in Air Philippines, which now flies missionary routes, or those not serviced by its bigger affiliate, Philippine Airlines.

And on with it:

Industry sources said Gatchalian’s interest might have further been stirred by the entry of another Filipino-Chinese, banker and fruit juice maker Alfredo Yao, into the airline business via low-cost carrier Asian Spirit, the country’s fourth-largest airline.
Yao is the owner of Zest-O Corp. and RC Cola. He also owns Philippine Business Bank and sits as director of Export and Industry Bank.
Donald Dee, who has been designated as chairman of Asian Spirit, confirmed rumors that Yao was in China to meet with traders for the acquisition of seven brand-new aircraft for the airline’s refleeting.
Dee, Ortiz-Luis and Varela are closely affiliated with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
Dee said the first phase of the refleeting program involved the acquisition of two Airbus A-320 for regional and long-haul domestic flights and another five 60-seater Jetcraft ideal for short distance flights.
He said the refleeting would start next month up to early 2009. The first batch of new aircraft will be delivered from June to July this year. Dee added Asian Spirit had a fleet of more than 10 aircraft, most of them specially designed for short take-off and landing.

Bus drivers in the Philippines unite yourself! Better paid and greener pasture seem to come up on the Horizon!

More airlines, more Airbus, less pilots means higher salary!:D:ok:

thrust clb

26th May 2008, 09:21

Looks like an Antonov An-26 with Dash-8 engines and wings grafted into it.

Centurion_210

1st Jun 2008, 13:02

China is a big xerox copier of the world, they make what ever they see..
eg If Europe has Nokia, China has Nokya

jens40202

1st Jun 2008, 23:10

It looks like the above article demonstrates the typical Filipino "Bananacue" mentality- i.e. if a neighbor suddenly makes money selling bananacues, not long every one is selling bananacues!

Just makes me wonder why nobody has thought about doing a feeder system for one of the more established foreign airlines?

Don Vito

2nd Jun 2008, 05:11

^you're crazy to attribute that to filipinos only. have you ever heard of the "bandwagon effect" or "herding instinct"? this happens worldwide, not just in the philippines.:rolleyes:

this is actually very good as it will promote competition among airlines which means lower prices for travellers and higher income for pilots.

Eight Ball

2nd Jun 2008, 14:35

Since this is a rumour network, there is a rumour that Yao is only a front man for Lucio Tan. Some pilots in A.S. are already thinking that they are out to destroy them to eliminate competition.

Only one of the 2 BAE146 is flying. The other is seriously grounded, 2 of the 4 x DHC7s' are also not flying. This leaves them with only 3 aircrafts and the purchase of the MA60 has been postponed to September ??? Asian Spirit is already nearing to just being a charter company instead of being an airline.

And buying an airbus ????......... I'll believe it when I see it.:bored:

Who's next on the target cross hairs ??... SeaAir ?

ex146

3rd Jun 2008, 08:43

hahaha, nice advise thrust clb! :D is the MA60 even FAA certified? :confused:

pacplyer

6th Jun 2008, 01:23

Maybe the Chinese bird makes sense? Since it will have no "N" reg number, The chances of getting shut down for paperwork problems like numerous US airlines have suffered lately is greatly reduced. The FAA is on a which hunt to restore it's credibility since it was revealed by the USair exec that FAA had a deal going to not enforce inspections at big airlines. This lead to groundings of the American MD-80's, United 777's and others earlier this year.

Is that Russian turboprop machine still flying between Indonesia and General Santos?

The Russians used to make pretty good copies of Western aircraft. Since the price of Jet fuel is killing everybody, maybe it's a good idea to kill off the lease costs. (Beats killing off pilot salaries.) And wasn't the Japanese YS-11 really an copy of the Lockheed Electra? I know it used to catch fire a lot with electrical problems, but it was still safer than road or ferry transport.

Is that Pacific Pearl B732 still flying? United says they are going to get rid of another thirty 737's. Thirsty machines indeed! (down low.) But the airframe can be had for a couple of million as opposed to making monthly lease payment on an airbus. But an aging classic like that has got to have lots of costly AD's right? How about the fuselage insulation AD's? What about cold-lapp metal bonding (rivet corrosion) issues? If it's high cycle, you might wind up spending the purchase price of the airplane every couple of months. FAA certification and N-numbers are not necessarily a good thing imho.

Does having some jet-lagged paper-pusher with no real world experience shutting you down all the time improve air safety? Better to lease Chinese birds with experienced Chinese mechanics for a while and offer high pilot salaries if you ask me.

And time to drill more in the Sprattlys! The only way to bring down the cost of Aviation fuel is to drill it domestically without the big hand of the Big Transnational Oil companies in the pinoy cookie jar. (Of course to do more of that means protection from the US Navy offshore, so may have to reopen the bases. Not sure that's going to work.)

What do ya think?

pac

powerstall

11th Jun 2008, 02:25

Regarding the MA-60, isn't it another copy of the An-24/26, if it were another copy isn't the Xian Y-7 also another copy based from the same russian aircraft? but both are made in china? :suspect:

teeepee

7th Jul 2008, 06:49

capt. gomer the vp=opns has started recruiting flyers from SIQUIJOR island south of Manila.nobody was able to leave for the trng last week cuz no visa ,no per diem etc etc it will be cheaper to get the flyers from the SIQUIJOR island:\

ads1963

12th Jul 2008, 00:23

That looks like a real mess! What will they do without pilots but having planes? Maybe they will hire chinese pilots for a change.

teeepee

12th Jul 2008, 11:39

fedex it look for the address in internet.the office electricity was cut off for non payment of electrical bills:)

B747-800

12th Jul 2008, 17:29

Rumors have it that the new EVP & COO seems to have good skills in dirty language and running after the skirt of FAs than running a company. Insiders reported that his ego is taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris but his performance is very low. The guy came from another domestic operator.

Not only has he bungled the domestic operation of the company but has also no idea on how to implement the MA-60 program. But he seems to still have the trust of Yao (as of this moment) but for how long more?

The VP operation is being groomed to take over his position and he is being thrown back to his old airline in his old position.

One can only sit back and watch how things are developing.

teeepee

13th Jul 2008, 06:50

yup the A320's are coming this month and no line up of Qualified pilots for trng.? 2 ex-PAL Airbus pilots was assigned by Capt.G to fly the Chinese turbo prop instead of lining them up on the A320 which will be like a breeze passing the trng.The A320's might just be a wishfull thinking i guess.Capt G would prefer the isda pilots to get the A320 trng evidently.
And for the COO (cousin of the owner) capt.dikiam (ret.B747-400 capt. PAL) he practically outlived his usefulness in the airline industry, only knows to swear all the time and intimidate younger pilots and flt.atteendants around the company.
Certainly hopes Mr.yao wakes up early to put the Airline in trail:rolleyes::D:ugh:

B747-800

13th Jul 2008, 13:03

How will they manage to fly the A320? How many are being bought and from where? Why does nobody kick the Cousin Of Owner in his foul mouth. What will he do if all pilots are walking out on him? Or would it be better if they all convert into zest-o juice or other fruits?

ads1963

14th Jul 2008, 13:58

received an email this afternoon from a friend in Lao Airlines and the trainee pilots from the Philippines - can only be from Asian Spirit no other customer MA60 customer in the Philippines - have not arrived for their training since one week. Maybe they are swimming there?

teeepee

14th Jul 2008, 20:06

Yes you are right they are swimming with no visa and per diems up to now the vp-opns vassilating whether to send them or not.the fellow is busy with a lot of things around his office with a "chief dark clouds" following to ck his blunders.He will be replaced by competent MD-82 Capt. soon.

ads1963

15th Jul 2008, 00:25

teeepeecapt. gomer the vp=opns has started recruiting flyers from SIQUIJOR island south of Manila.nobody was able to leave for the trng last week cuz no visa ,no per diem etc etc it will be cheaper to get the flyers from the SIQUIJOR island:\

The Siquijor Pilots:

http://www.wayodd.com/funny-pictures2/funny-pictures-dont-drink-and-fly-0zx.jpg

B747-800

15th Jul 2008, 03:08

My vacation in the Philippines was f.cked up big time by Asian Spirit back in May this year. And this was after the new management takeover of the zest-o canned juice makers. It's disgusting how they treat complaints and give more importance to politicians and their relatives than regular paying passengers.

Asian Spirit flights to Bora delayed 8 hrs - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080502-134061/Asian-Spirit-flights-to-Bora-delayed-8-hrs)

Asian Spirit flights to Bora delayed 8 hrs -
Only 2 planes available
Francisco said only two planes were flying from Manila to Caticlan and back on a heavy travel day.
"Two are working, two planes are down and one was chartered for Macau ... and passenger safety is our priority," Francisco told the Philippine Daily Inquirer

How will they operate the MA-60 and the A320 if they can not even handle a fleet of 3 aircraft?

B747-800

17th Jul 2008, 05:32

BusinessWorld Online: Asian Spirit focuses on route expansion, forgets SEAIR link (http://www.bworld.com.ph/BW071708/content.php?id=044)

Budget airline Asian Spirit, Inc. expects the delivery next month of the first of four Airbus aircraft that will be used to serve major domestic routes and planned regional services.

Three more wide-bodied aircraft and five smaller turbo propeller planes will be delivered in the next six months as Asian Spirit penetrates the major domestic routes and develops new hubs in Mindanao.

Mr. Dee said they are pursuing expansion plans this year without Southeast Asian Airlines, Inc. (SEAIR). Merger talks between the two budget carriers have hit a snag.

"[The merger] is still hanging in the air. We have made our offer, but they have not come back to us. It’s up to them. We are now totally focused on expanding our routes and getting more equipment," Mr. Dee said.

Busdrivers, new jobs are awaiting you!

thrust clb

18th Jul 2008, 12:41

my fearless forecast: SIX MONTHS MAX BEFORE THIS THING FOLDS UP. Nothing worse than Rich People clueless about the Airline Business.:ugh:

teeepee

19th Jul 2008, 12:18

can't expect much esp. with capt.dikiam an ex-pal b747-400 capt who thinks he owns the airline and doesnt care if the applicants are former pal pilots as well flying Airbus before rejected 'em for personal reasons,very pathetric for the new owner.A MEDIOCRE IN HIS STAFF:=

B747-800

22nd Jul 2008, 06:26

If they want to operate this now fleet when will they be hiring pilots and other people to support it? Maybe all the talks about new airplane are just a marketing gimmick of them to scare the competition.:mad:

powerstall

22nd Jul 2008, 08:58

heard they are closing down or trimming down operations in mactan.

is this true?:ouch:

B747-800

24th Jul 2008, 16:43

Just found this:

[QUOTE]Philippines' Asian Spirit getting A320s and MA60s
Leithen Francis, Singapore (23Jul08, 10:50 GMT, 697 words)

<FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2><DIV class=Section1><DIV>Philippine carrier Asian Spirit, which recently underwent an ownership change, has ordered five Xian Aircraft MA60 turboprops for delivery this year and is looking to buy two second-hand Airbus A320s and place an order for two new A320s.
Asian Spirit executive VP and chief operating officer Eliseo Tabora says the company has purchased five MA60s with two to be delivered at the end of September, one in November and two in December.
These aircraft will be used domestically in competition against Cebu Pacific Air’s ATR 72-500s and PAL Express’ Bombardier Q300s and Q400s.
The airline plans to have five sets of crew for each MA60 and half the pilots that will operate the aircraft are currently at Xian Aircraft in China undergoing simulator and other training, says Tabora.
He says Asian Spirit earlier looked at the ATR 72-500 and Bombardier Q-series but one reason it chose the MA60 is because the Chinese manufacturer could deliver the aircraft this year.

Tabora also says he spoke with some MA60 operators, such as Lao Airlines, which spoke highly of the aircraft and when he visited the Xian Aircraft factory in

B747-800

13th Aug 2008, 13:19

The lessor took back the BAe146 and the airbus deal fell through and only 2 DASH 7 flying? True or rumor?

B747-800

21st Aug 2008, 01:52

Asian Spirit is looking for Pilots according to this post http://www.pprune.org/4338768-post841.html

A320 drivers for U.S.D 10k/months.

B747-800

2nd Sep 2008, 19:37

Asian Spirit seems a goner: No pilots, only two operative DASH-7 and no planes in sight - except maybe the MA-60s.

Airbus.............which airbus are you talking about?

http://business.inquirer.net/money/features/view/20080903-158351/Getting-ready-for-Round-2

Where’s the Spirit?
Many observers were left scratching their heads when “juice magnate” Alfredo Yao—who made his fortune with Zest-O juice drinks—bought the airline Asian Spirit for a cool P1 billion at a time the global airline industry was just about to go into a collective tailspin.
That tailspin has now turned into a nosedive for Asian Spirit, after its British Aerospace 146 jets (it had three) were taken back by their lessors for alleged missed lease payments, airline industry insiders say. A call to the airline’s booking offices confirmed that Asian Spirit no longer operates the aircraft type, which it had boasted of in earlier marketing efforts as the very same kind of aircraft used by Queen Elizabeth II.
With the loss of its BAe 146 aircraft, Asian Spirit is left operating decades-old De Havilland Dash 7 and the Japanese-made YS-11—all turboprop-powered.
The airline is set to acquire five Xian MA60 from—you guessed it—China to replenish its fleet.
The MA60 is a reengineered civilian version of Russian Antonov military transport planes. Having been made in Chinese factories, it’s a good bet that these aircraft are cheaper to acquire. The only problem is that the MA60 has not yet been granted an airworthiness certification by the safety-conscious US Federal Aviation Administration or its UK counterpart.

B747-800

13th Sep 2008, 10:24

Got silent on them? They should have problems getting pilots now.

B747-800

20th Sep 2008, 04:06

Learned from Manila: They bought two A320 from the US. Can anyone confirm?

jamestaylor

21st Sep 2008, 08:57

YES FIRM - 162 Seater

B747-800

21st Sep 2008, 13:53

What configuration is that? Never seen that one!

jamestaylor

22nd Sep 2008, 02:41

That is funky USA all Y class makes no sense. Will upgrade to 180 seats at first C check i imagine..........

B747-800

25th Sep 2008, 01:40

Who ever guessed that Asian Spirit has so many aircraft?

What do you believe the newspapers over in the Philippines?

Untitled Document (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business6_sept18_2008)

Re-fleeting, collectibles top Asian Spirit’s agenda

Asian Spirit, the new acquisition of major juice maker and banker Alfredo M. Yao, may spend over P10 billion for its ambitious re-fleeting program that will make it a “significant” player in the local airline industry. The airline plans to initially acquire eight aircraft in the first phase of its expansion and another eight in the next stage as it modernizes fleet and trims its reliance on lease arrangements.

Ambassador and Asian Spirit chairman Donald Dee declined to say the exact amount of the re-fleeting program when pressed by this writer in a telephone conversation, but he hinted that it would be in excess of $200 million. Dee sounded upbeat during the interview as he disclosed that the airline was expecting the arrival of two Airbus jets by November.
Dee said Asian Spirit was no longer renewing its lease on old planes and would rather hire new ones to trim operating costs.
Standard Today reporter Elaine Ramos Alanguilan quoted Dee earlier as saying that the first phase of the re-fleeting program included the acquisition of two Airbus A-320 for regional and long-haul domestic flights and another five 60-seater Jetcraft ideal for short distance flights.
Set for phaseout in the airline’s current fleet of 18 are the BAe 146 aircraft, which are capable of transporting 80 to 100 people each. Asian Spirit had relied on BAe jets for its domestic and the Cebu-Palau and Davao-Palau routes. Manufactured by British Aerospace Systems, the BAe jet is known for having the best short takeoff and landing capability. The aircraft requires just a 1,100-meter-long runway to take off and land.
Minor irritants
Dee, meanwhile, denied talk that Yao and his group had a sort of falling out with the former owners of Asian Spirit. Yao, owner of Zest-O Corp., RC Cola and Philippine Business Bank, bought the airline from the Airline Employees Cooperative led by prominent businessman and CATS founder Antonio Ang, Antonio Turralba Jr. of the Active Group Inc., and investment banker Noel Oñate for P1 billion in March.
The grapevine said Yao’s group inherited a substantial amount of collectibles from the Korean general sales representative of Asian Spirit, who took care of the airline’s Korean routes. Asian Spirit operated the Davao-Seoul, Kalibo-Seoul and Laoag-Seoul routes before it was acquired by its new set of owners.
The grapevine said the former owners of Asian Spirit failed to collect payments from its Korean partner for servicing the Korean routes. The Yao group as a result ended up with the sizeable amount of collectibles. But Dee said the new owners were aware of the non-payment during the negotiations to acquire Asian Spirit and declined to blame Ang, Turralba and Oñate for the liability.
New thrusts
Fresh capital will now be the least of the problems of Asian Spirit. Its owners are relatively awash with cash and its management, initially in the hands of Dee, is well-connected. Dee is chairman emeritus of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry while Yao is a government special envoy for international trade and development of tourism with China.
Asian Spirit is expected to add China to its foreign destinations and boost its Korean flights. Its re-branding soon will give passengers a clear idea of the airline’s future thrusts. Asian Spirit’s merger with Southeast Asian Airlines, meanwhile, will have to take a backseat unless Seair’s owners finally agree to a minority stake. A bigger and modern Asian Spirit, however, will limit the options of Seair in the competitive budget airline industry.

Centurion_210

1st Oct 2008, 03:09

I can smell somebody from the forum hates the said airline... :O

jamestaylor

1st Oct 2008, 06:05

My god thanks for the post as you say in phil bola-bola.........right. They are flying two planes only. Can the really take on Cebu and PAL??? I do not think so so bye bye zesto what a name ......

B747-800

7th Oct 2008, 11:49

and where are the new planes? Where are the MA60 and where are the A320?

Guess dreaming of it now:D

thrust clb

8th Oct 2008, 00:08

Well they put up a half-page ad on the papers last week...so i guess it must be true. Remains to be seen how can they take on Bupak and Pal . :rolleyes:

powerstall

8th Oct 2008, 02:00

Saw the Ad in one of the local newspaper, think they advertised it as Zest Air, had 2 partial planes on the ad, the front of the MA-60 and the tail and wing of an Airbus.

738FO

9th Oct 2008, 04:08

Hmmm... Zest Air? Sounds like a Flying Bar Soap.

Peace!!!!! :oh:

But im really curious What happend to all their planes before? and where are the new ac's????

B747-800

13th Oct 2008, 01:08

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/4/4/9/1408944.jpg

738FO

13th Oct 2008, 01:53

Asia's most refreshing airline?? Do they serve you gallons of zest-o inside? Thats probly necessary if you are inside the ma60. :oh:
Mr. Yao , no offense but ,what were you thinking????
Orange and green??
You gotta be kidding!!! :ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh:

ironbutt57

13th Oct 2008, 02:59

Hey I like Zesto rootbeer:ok:

thrust clb

13th Oct 2008, 11:51

Looks like an Antonov 24, Dash-8-300 and Fokker 50 in a menage-a-trois.

St. Ex

13th Oct 2008, 14:10

"Ze stair"...what a Frenchman would take when the elevator is out of order.

Centurion_210

14th Oct 2008, 15:41

the color? its either inspired from mr. yao's bread and butter zest-o orange juice or from a chinese feng shui for goodluck.

win_faa

16th Oct 2008, 04:47

extracted from GMANews.TV...

MANILA, Philippines - Juice taipan and banker Alfredo M. Yao plans to merge budget carriers Asian Spirit, Inc. and South East Asian Airlines, Inc. (SEAIR) by yearend, in a bid to make the merged entity more competitive amid rising fuel prices by streamlining redundant destinations and cutting costs.

This as he completes negotiations for his takeover of SEAIR within the next two months, shortly after buying Asian Spirit last month.

"I still don’t know which [of the two airlines] will be the surviving entity after the merger," Mr. Yao said. He also did not say whether the merger would result in layoffs.

Mr. Yao, chairman of juice manufacturer Zest-O Corp., said his talks with SEAIR owners, including Nikos Gitsis, Iren Dornier and Tomas B. Lopez, are already at their final stage.

"There was already a meeting of the minds," Mr. Yao told reporters in a chance meeting in Boracay on Friday.

He said his group has started due diligence on SEAIR to prepare for the change of ownership. He admitted that the acquisition cost for SEAIR has been finalized, but declined to confirm reports that the price was around P1 billion, similar to the price tag of Asian Spirit.

Last month, Mr. Yao acquired Asian Spirit through AMY Holdings, Inc., an investment company that he owns with his siblings. The share purchase agreement was signed after five months of intense negotiations.

He said discussions on the SEAIR acquisition had started at about the same time, adding that a deal would be signed by June.

With his looming purchase of SEAIR, Mr. Yao can dominate low-cost flights to Caticlan, the gateway to the island of Boracay.

Data from the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport in Caticlan showed that Asian Spirit and SEAIR captured a combined 60% of the 7,352 reported flights to and from Caticlan last year.

The rest was cornered by Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines and Island Getaway. The latter two are owned by tycoon Lucio Tan, whose Philippine Airlines is also venturing into destinations with smaller airports after it bought nine small aircraft last week.

Mr. Yao, who also owns Philippine Business Bank and Export and Industry Bank, said he intends to merge the two airlines within the year to strengthen domestic operations.

Set up in 1995, Asian Spirit flies to 12 local and three international destinations like Incheon, Korea; Sandakan, Malaysia; and Macau using a fleet of 10 planes.

SEAIR was established in the same year and now has 11 planes that fly to 16 domestic destinations.

Mr. Yao said he would streamline redundant destinations once the merger is completed.

He added that the merger would consider the strength of Asian Spirit in its international flights, and of SEAIR, which has focused on its fast flights to local destinations like Palawan and nearby islands. - BusinessWorld

B747-800

23rd Oct 2008, 17:26

any news here?

powerstall

24th Oct 2008, 02:42

... They already received their 1st MA-60. But i haven't seen it flying, maybe the paperworks are still in the works.

eagle135

24th Oct 2008, 13:33

I've seen 2 twin engine aircraft, probably turbo-props doing touch and go's in CRK, with a neon green and tangerine colors. The airline is renamed, ZEST AIR.

blueforce

27th Oct 2008, 03:00

B747-800

greetings.

you seem to know some of the personalities of the new owners. that's the same things we are hearing over here. am sure VP-OPs can do a good job than that EVP/COO!

thanks.

B747-800

27th Oct 2008, 13:24

Unfortunatly not.....I am really interested to possibly meet some of the guys. maybe when i am the next time around RPLL i wanna have a look at their planes and their operations.

blueforce

27th Oct 2008, 16:24

i have met the VP-OPS and he's a really nice guy. as for the EVP/COO, he's a loud mouth with brains as big as his nuts!

3 aging Dash 7s, 2 Ma60s for now! thats the whole fleet. what more to see?

thanks.

B747-800

27th Oct 2008, 17:00

and where is their airbus? i thought they are buying A320?

According to their website: Zest Airways - Asia's most refreshing airline. (http://www.asianspirit.com/our_fleet.htm) they should have

Airbus 320-200
The founding member of the best selling Airbus single aisle family, the A320 is the world’s pioneering fly-by-wire jetliner. The aircraft’s wide fuselage provides wider and more comfortable cabin features and seats, more room for carry-on luggage and ability to load containerized cargo in the belly hold.

Number2 aircraftPower2 x International Aero Engines IAEV2527-A5 @ 27,000 lbf eachMax Cruise Speed485 kts /Capacity162 Passengers (1-class layout) + 37.4 cu. m. cargo spaceSeat Pitch31 in.

blueforce

28th Oct 2008, 12:37

line pilots for the A320s, i heard have started their ground school for the type. the A320s are coming from JETBLUE.

will somebody confirm this?

thanks.

blueforce

B747-800

30th Oct 2008, 11:32

have met the VP-OPS and he's a really nice guy.
are you refering to this guy? http://www.pprune.org/4227565-post22.html

as for the EVP/COO, he's a loud mouth with brains as big as his nuts!

and this guy? http://www.pprune.org/4240529-post27.html

And for the COO (cousin of the owner) capt.dikiam (ret.B747-400 capt. PAL) he practically outlived his usefulness in the airline industry, only knows to swear all the time and intimidate younger pilots and flt.atteendants around the company.
Certainly hopes Mr.yao wakes up early to put the Airline in trail:rolleyes::D:ugh:

will be on my rotation next months RON in RPLL. will see what's happening there.

are the MA60 already flting and where are the buses?

powerstall

30th Oct 2008, 11:41

there is already one sole MA-60 parked infront of Delta Hangar... for the Airbus?... ... dunno... :confused: ...

jamestaylor

30th Oct 2008, 13:55

Is this Zesto guy for real???????????? A320 are coming in but with 162 seats can he compete with 5J whi is the best - no freakin way ok plane and simple if you are smart fly with Cebu as they are number one and will always be sorry PAL you are truly a joke................................

B747-800

30th Oct 2008, 15:52

at least enough raw materials to make his cans for the juices

http://www.zesto.com.ph/zestoimgs/zesto_jic_picbig.jpg

http://www.zesto.com.ph/zestoimgs/zesto_rootbeer_picbig.jpg

http://www.zesto.com.ph/zestoimgs/zesto_cola_picbig.jpg

flyboylipad

30th Oct 2008, 17:25

Hey the root beer is nice..!!

Yummmm!

powerstall

31st Oct 2008, 00:47

Never knew they had those juices in cans, always thought they were in the pouch. At least an OD with the rootbeer in the cockpit would be different. :E

Elmer_mt

31st Oct 2008, 06:52

:ok:People in business had their eyes set in on running the company to make it competitive. It make sense for the new owner of Asian Spirit/ Zest Air to re-fleet, re-structure, re-finance and re-organize its newly acquired company. Acquiring new planes like MA-60's and A320's for sure had been studied by management as feasible in the running of a newly acquired airline. So let's hope that this company works as well as the other major players like PAL and CebuPacific in the Philippines. See you guys in flight....

B747-800

1st Nov 2008, 02:50

People in business had their eyes set in on running the company to make it competitive. It make sense for the new owner of Asian Spirit/ Zest Air to re-fleet, re-structure, re-finance and re-organize its newly acquired company. Acquiring new planes like MA-60's and A320's for sure had been studied by management as feasible in the running of a newly acquired airline. So let's hope that this company works as well as the other major players like PAL and CebuPacific in the Philippines. See you guys in flight....

if you say so............amen! guess only after 3 months of operation will anyone see if the airline will survive oder if the airplanes will be converted into soda cans.

ads1963

1st Nov 2008, 04:10

Rumors fresh delivered via email from Manila – MA60 are not being certified by ATO, first A320 will not be arriving before the end of ’08 and might get into the line service in 2nd quarter. Blame “Captain Loudmouth” for it.

blueforce

3rd Nov 2008, 14:50

greetings

guess the docs were put to order already as we ........................

heard MA60 been sked for proving flights to some destinations (Virac, Catarman, etc.) starting WED 05OCT08.

will see.

thanks.

B747-800

7th Nov 2008, 13:30

made my rounds in manila during my RON and checked whats the latest over there. still no foreign pilots in the airlines allowed. but the rumors have it that the foreign consultant of zest air for the A320 project punched the TOGA and went back to his country. seems he couldn't stomach it anymore and moved on for greener and cleaner air outside the philippines.

MA60s seem to do some "experimental" flights but no commercial flights. just wondering how deep the pockets are of the new owner.

blueforce

8th Nov 2008, 10:28

FRI saw the MA60 at the Virac airport on it's proving flight. i guess it was OK since Zest Air scheduled their first revenue flight for the type this SUN 09NOV08, ETD MNL 1050H.

heard the proving flights for NAGA, CALBAYOB, CATARMAN, ILOILO, etc. went OK. its even flying to PUERTO in an afternoon flight!

FYI.

powerstall

8th Nov 2008, 10:59

Any info on how many MA-60's they're planning on flying? :confused:

B747-800

8th Nov 2008, 11:51

looks like you guys in the PI bent your rules as you like them.

the MA60 is not certified by any standard except by the chinese authority. china does not have agreements with faa or easa and therefore the operation in the pi will continue to be faa cat 2. the creation of the new ato will not help you to upgrade the country status of faa cat 2 to cat 1. even easa has put the pi onto its watchlist. the licensing of the MA60 will be putting the pi into the tail end of the cat 2 countries and all of this just for the profit gains of one businessman?

for further reading suggest to read: IASA Results Definitions (http://www.faa.gov/safety/programs_initiatives/oversight/iasa/definitions/)

and
Standardisation | Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (EC SAFA Programme) (http://www.easa.europa.eu/ws_prod/s/s_safa.php)

my guess: a few months of weeks of operation of the MA60 till the first incident - not even accident - and the aircraft will be grounded and can be converted to softdrink cans of his owner.

thrust clb

9th Nov 2008, 13:13

It is therefore safe conclude that the MA in MA60 means..
MALING AIRCRAFT. (wrong aircraft). :}

...i bet someone from the inside made lots of $$$$$$ to choose it over the competition . heard from the grapevine it can't land in Caticlan without serious load penalties :uhoh:. someone tell Yao that the Airline business is a different league than making fruit juices! :{

B747-800

9th Nov 2008, 13:45

...i bet someone from the inside made lots of $$$$$$ to choose it over the competition . heard from the grapevine it can't land in Caticlan without serious load penalties http://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/worry.gif. someone tell Yao that the Airline business is a different league than making fruit juices! http://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/boohoo.gif

could that be the reason why their foreign consultant packed up and left the country? not everybody can be bought by money. maybe he smelled the rat in the belly of the aircraft and decided to jump ship.

blueforce

9th Nov 2008, 14:11

B747-800, et al

greetings.

SHOOT! Zest CNZLD their SUN revenue flights to VIRAC and other destinations. Reason we heard was that the CAAP would not let it fly rev flights YET!

Rescheduled rev flights will be on WED 12NOV, if the CAAP Dir Gen signs the release docs.

Passengers are starting to doubt whether this tin can will be allowed to fly.

CATICLAN, will be operated by the Dash7s.

thanks.

B747-800

9th Nov 2008, 14:35

Reason we heard was that the CAAP would not let it fly rev flights YET!

Rescheduled rev flights will be on WED 12NOV, if the CAAP Dir Gen signs the release docs.

isn't it common over there that these people also need their fair share on the deal? lubricants can help to make the engine run and a little money for the fuel of the driver?

blueforce

9th Nov 2008, 14:47

B747-800

9th Nov 2008, 14:55

am tempted to agree with you but am thinking the Dir Gen will not compromise his position in regards to regaining the FAAs Cat 1 for PI.

his head is on the block! for a few bucks?

my, my, ........ if he puts his thumb down on this MA60 deal, ZEST is hosed.

when will the nights end for this ZEST Air? will they see the lights of tomorrow?

the answer to your question is here: http://www.pprune.org/4516885-post81.html

and for the DCA, the answer is here: http://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/334980-one-two-go-grounded.html

blueforce

9th Nov 2008, 14:56

powerstall

ZEST ordered FIVE (5) MA60s. TWO (2) are already here in PI. the Dir Gen (CAAP) has not release the MA60s for rev flights though they were able to fly some proving flights already.

B747-800

9th Nov 2008, 15:01

blueforce: watta future for an airline? guess the zest-o can factory will not run out of raw materials for the next few years. :E:E:E

where are their buses? do you hear any rumors? you seem to have your ears in the right place over there

blueforce

9th Nov 2008, 15:35

B747-800

used to be a fast mover jock years ago but am a ground pounding dude now. recently, been thinking of flying for ZEST that's why i have my nose glued to anything about ZEST. latest on the buses is that one (1) is inbound last week NOV or first week of DEC.

the first batch of pilots are having their ground school, VP-OPS included. poor guy can't even concentrate on his studies due to pressures (job related)!

latest on the MA60s, they need more sets of qualified pilots to fly the two already here. if not the other MA60s will grow roots! or converted to tin cans.

i guess i will have to stay on the ground. had my fair share of jet time already.

thanks.

B747-800

9th Nov 2008, 16:41

hi burner jockey blueforce, gues you'll be happy not to have joined the juice maker raw material collector. if the DCA in the pi is worth one cent he will not clear the MA60 for revenue flights.

can't imagine that this amateur airline is ready for any bus ops at all. think that PAL and CebuPac is laughing their butts off about this operation and just consider them a temp operator.

its a good chance for the other start-up operators to expand their market share and even with two buses they cant make a dent into the market.

maybe this cpt. loudmouth will soon retire for good if he cant get the MA60 flying and earning real money. should have really retired instead of joining the management of a "soft drink can rawmaterial operator".

buskoto

10th Nov 2008, 15:18

It is therefore safe conclude that the MA in MA60 means..
MALING AIRCRAFT. (wrong aircraft). http://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/badteeth.gif

Or MA LING... the famous Chinese luncheon meat of indeterminate origin.:hmm:

powerstall

11th Nov 2008, 02:00

Or MA LING... the famous Chinese luncheon meat of indeterminate origin.http://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/yeees.gif

.. hey that's good for breakfast.... doesn't contain melamine too.... :ok:

blueforce

11th Nov 2008, 04:56

hear ye

ZESTs MA60 finally started their rev flights to Kalibo, Catarman, etc.Why Kalibo? 1 Dash 7 is again down for maintenance! NO JOY to Caticlan Airport? Bet with penalty to land there...

and so they have to defer again flights supposed to be flown by the MA60 to other destinations just so to fly the Boracay milk run!

B747-800 sir, any comments? are you btw a line fly boy? what outfit? mucho thanks.

blueforce

11th Nov 2008, 05:08

whats this we hear that AirPHIL has started retrenching their people? and the bus pilots trained by PAL are applying at Zest! lucky Zest don't have to spend so much for their bus pilots!

powerstall

11th Nov 2008, 13:11

Any info on their proving flight to Caticlan? If the MA60 has penalties, it should be the same with the Dash 8-Q300's?... heavily penalized... :confused:

B747-800

11th Nov 2008, 15:18

it just shows that in the PI everything is possible. guess the country will never be upgraded to FAA cat 1 again as long as this practice of certification is done.

blueforce, i am a bus driver in the region.

blueforce

12th Nov 2008, 00:20

COPY THAT, B747-800.

i wonder if PAL will make a fuss out of it.

thank you much.

B747-800

15th Nov 2008, 10:09

The Commission also examined the action plan addressing the exercise of oversight in the Philippines, and intends to carry out with Member States a safety assessment of the Philippine civil aviation authorities in early 2009.

based on this audit and how the EU evaluates, aside from Zest Air also other carriers will be included in the blacklist or the philippines will be blacklisted as a whole.

the basis for this will be that the MA60 are not EASA certified. the big crying will start than and PAL and Cebu Pacific will gang up on these carriers which will cause the blacklisting.

blueforce

16th Nov 2008, 16:08

TRUE, I could see this happening.

thanks.

buskoto

17th Nov 2008, 14:19

Does anyone know whether Zest will in fact be able to operate the MA-60 to Caticlan? And at what passenger loads?

flyboylipad

18th Nov 2008, 09:04

Saw them in Caticlan the other day... nice plane.. not sure of the passenger loads though?

B747-800

21st Nov 2008, 10:02

isn't the press funny or is it the truth?

Zest Airways buys 7 aircrafts | balita-dot-ph (http://balita.ph/2008/11/11/zest-airways-buys-7-aircrafts/)

Zest Airways buys 7 aircrafts

MANILA, Nov. 11 – Zest Airways, Inc. formerly Asian Spirit Airlines, recently acquired seven brand new aircrafts from Canada.

Alfredo Yao, chairman of the Yao Group of Companies, said “Of the seven, five MA 60 with 60 seats have already been delivered and the remaining two are Airbus planes which seat 160 that should be delivered this month.”

Yao said this adds up to a total of 11 aircraft that is serving mostly tourists destinations.

2 DASH 7 plus 2 MA60 = 4 aircraft (according to mathematics). where are the rest?

what happened to the remaining MA60 and the A320?

buskoto

21st Nov 2008, 13:07

Pilots for the Zest A320s are winding up training in HK, from what I've heard.

Pax load for the MA-60 out of Caticlan is in the 30s. Now as to whether money can be made at that load factor...

B747-800

27th Nov 2008, 23:38

any news? guess they are strangling specially with cpt. loudmouth around! hearing that he is a member of NATO=No Action, Talks Only! and these talks are loud and foul talks!

blueforce

30th Nov 2008, 08:48

any news?

they managed to screw up (CNXLD/REDUCED) the flights to some destinations starting 28 Nov 08 until 26 Dec 08 due to aircraft situation. rumor has it that 1 of the 2 Dash 7s is again down awaiting parts!:ugh:

Oh, the 2 MA60s are doing fine. the rest are coming 3rd week of Dec including the 2 buses.

their opening never did create the impact they prayed for, simply due to very poor corporate planning. they assumed too much or simply ignored the realities of the trade.

powerstall

30th Nov 2008, 11:01

Never noticed that they had an official launch.... they just started flying under the Zest Air brand, still utilizing "Spirit" ... :confused:

B747-800

30th Nov 2008, 16:15

they managed to screw up (CNXLD/REDUCED) the flights to some destinations starting 28 Nov 08 until 26 Dec 08 due to aircraft situation. rumor has it that 1 of the 2 Dash 7s is again down awaiting parts!:ugh:

Oh, the 2 MA60s are doing fine. the rest are coming 3rd week of Dec including the 2 buses.

their opening never did create the impact they prayed for, simply due to very poor corporate planning. they assumed too much or simply ignored the realities of the trade.

will they ever learn? does cpt. loudmouth not know how to control his operation and organize the supply chain?

or does he think the owner has so deep pockets that he will always fly in the red?

better, take the aircraft and make zesto cans out of it. if they can't keep the DASH 7 flying how will they keep one or two busses flying? must be dreaming.

blueforce

3rd Dec 2008, 23:27

Well, well what do you guys know?

Zest will be launching their Davao and Cebu sectors this coming 20 Dec 08, utilizing A320!

Puerto will use the Ma60, afternoon flight. I remember Asian Spirit flying this sector with their BAe146, also in the afternoon. They failed miserably. Perahps this time it would be different since fares will be very competitive with the other carriers.

Heard what CebuPac can offer, Zest will also offer lesser fares!

Meantime, established routes are still suspended due to lack of MA60!

ads1963

5th Dec 2008, 22:26

A couple of days back I spoke to a friend of mine whose wife bought a ticket online for Manila to Tacloban for a flight before X-mas. Last Monday she received a call from the airline that the flight is not operating because of some operational reasons (guess they don't have the aircraft).

Now here comes the really cheating part: The lady in the reservation told her that she can only get back her money which she paid via credit card online only in TWO MONTHS!

Is this the way this airline is financing their rubbish aircraft? They steal money from potential passengers for flights they are not operating and than they are only refunding it after two months meaning that they use the clients money for several months (booking was done as early as October 2008).

Who in the Philippines is responsible to control these cheaters? Where can she file her complaint? Who is in charge in this god forsaken B.S. airline?

B747-800

6th Dec 2008, 00:20

fernandeztv

6th Dec 2008, 09:06

ads1963...the situation faced by your friend's wife was faced by me numerous times...dunno if it had been 7 or 8 times. Ususally when you buy online tickets there is a checkbox that you have to check to accept the terms and conditions before you can make payment for the online ticket. Usually if you read that it states that any refund will be credited back to your credit card only after TWO MONTHS. I believe this has become a SOP for various airlines across the globe. I personally have not faced this in the Philippiens coz none of the airlines here accept Foreign Credit cards, however I have faced this back in India and other countries. On one occassion i had a tough time because the amount did not get credited back after 2 months! Easy to lose track of it if you book multiple tickets and also have a few cancellations here and there.

However i do undertsand the fact here is that the particular airline advt for a route which they could not operate as advertised...but again it all depends on what was written in the terms & conditions of that particular fine print checkbox when booking online! From my experience nothing much a customer can do when he/she has accepted to those terms as usually those terms are favourable to the airline...not the PAX! Again i have not seen what those conditions are for Asian spirit/Zest air...but just reading 5Js conditions gave me a fair idea!

Yeah i have heard of a few compaints/lawsuits being filed...but after a year in courts it gets thrown out because the customer chose to check that terms & conditions checkbox! Nothing pretty much a PAX can do!:*

ads1963

7th Dec 2008, 06:31

thanks fernandeztv for your advise but I couldn't find a thing about this condition. I called my friend in Manila and also he could not find anything here:

Untitled Document (http://apps.sqiva.com/data/snowball/awan/asianspiritman/ibook_zest/condition_of_carriage.htm)

The strange thing is that this airline is selling flights which are not existing and are collecting money for it. This looks to me like a fraud! Why sell a flight, collect money for it and than refund it only after two months or so?

It looks as if this Chinaman is using my friends money and I am sure hundreds or even thousands of other Pax's money for bridge financing of his re-fleeting program.:=

Don't you have an authority in the Philippines which controls such illegal practices?

If you look at there conditions on the page referred to you will find the following sentence:

SOLD SUBJECT TO TARIFF REGULATIONS ISSUED BY AIRLINE EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED / ASIAN SPIRIT AS APPROVED BY THE CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD

Wasn't the airline sold to Yao?

B747-800

7th Dec 2008, 15:52

don't worry about your friend's money. its common over in the islands that you get money from people and don't perform the service. he should be lucky if he ever get's his money back.

maybe he should complain to cpt. loudmouth.

thats nothing but "old wine in new skins".

i doubt they will survive for a long time, as long as they dont retire all their old planes and improve their pathetic organization, management and their systems.

people in the phils are wary, and with both SEAIR and CEB flying to popular domestic destinations with brandnew turbo-props, ZEST will hardly be able to fill its seats.....

but well, they bought new chinese-made aircraft which have been recommended by reputable aviation experts such as the military forces of Zambia (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g293842-Zambia-Vacations.html), Laos, Indonesia, Congo and Bolivia (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g294071-Bolivia-Vacations.html).

then nothing can go wrong in the future with them cause they'll be stopping flying soon, me thinks :p:p:p

ads1963

9th Dec 2008, 11:15

The rumour is that 1 of their MA60 already has metal chipping in one engine and they have to pull down the engine!

What ever happened to their A320? They are selling flights already without having the aircraft. I think these guys need money to finance their re-fleeting program and get advance payments on not existing flights!

How long will this "airline" exist with this dishonest ways of raising funds?

The net is full of such complaints:

myPH Philippines // Log in (http://myph.com.ph/phpBB2/login.php?redirect=posting.php&mode=quote&p=5557)

Good luck with Zest Air. They may be a shorter walk away than Cebu Pacific but that's only if the plane is actually there. Zest Air has been canceling more flights than it's been flying ever since it took over Asian Spirit.

Tsikot Philippines 2008 (http://tsikot.yehey.com/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=1140694)

Is the MA-60 airplane safe?
The following text...

MA-60

The MA60 is an advanced 50-60 seat class regional turboprop aircraft developed by Xi'an Aircraft Company of China aviation Industry Corporation I (AVICI).

I don't know about you but I won't be able to feel safe with this craft. I googled (MA60) and apart from the manufacturers website, page 1 of the search engine hits is an article about the aircraft being not FAA certified (at least not yet). http://tsikot.yehey.com/forums/images/smilies/unsure.gif

Troubles hound airlines, bus line | Airlines | News | en.AvBuyer.com.cn (http://www.avbuyer.com.cn/e/2008/29920.html)

Troubles hound airlines

One passenger, Virac businesswoman Lanie Isidoro, told the Tribune that she bought her ticket from the Asian Spirit ticketing office in town weeks before the flight. When she was already in Manila, she sent a text message to the ticket office to confirm the flight. It was only then that she was told that all flights had been cancelled. Other irate passengers bombarded the Asian-Zest Airline ticketing personnel with complaints following the scheduling snafu.

It may be recalled that sometime this October, Asian Spirit announced that its flight to and from Manila would be cancelled for an entire week to allow management time to have the new planes repainted and then certified for airworthiness by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

Capt. Ivanhoe V. Arcilla revealed that the Zest Air management failed to anticipate the fact that CAAP would not have qualified check pilots to test the new MA-60 aircraft, which he said is being assembled in mainland China using parts from the US. He said that he hopes management would be able to have the aircraft fleet certified and ready to fly by the first week of next month.

On the other hand, riders of PAL Express hesitantly boarded the regular jetprop plane assigned to the route. The reason? The same plane, a 78-seater Bombardier Q400, was involved in a landing incident last Oct. 18.

The plane, which suffered damage to one of its nose wheels, stayed on the tarmac of Virac airport for a week before mechanics managed to fly it out to Manila.

Boracay Forum: Post a Reply - TripAdvisor (http://www.tripadvisor.ie/PostReply-g294260-i6038-k1731397-p53-Boracay_Visayas.html)

Asian spirit was a cooperative managed by its employees and a board of directors that, like most board in this country, has no clue whatesover about the business they are supposed to manage. The board is just there because it looks good.

That is why they bought the wrong planes for the wrong destinations at the wrong possible time then were forced to sell to juice maker, owner of Zesto.

The "jet" planes have now been repossessed, the airline will be renamed Zest Air and fruit juice will be given free on all flight.

Present propeller planes are about 35-40 years old and are a nightmare to keep up in maintenance.

Zest Air is buying chinese-made-russian-reconditioned jet planes to re-fleet by next year. Problem is that those planes are not air-worthy by any accreditation outfit, except in China.

I am so happy Seair was not bought by Zest Air. Seair is the only professionally managed domestic airline. It is owned by people who are pilots, passionate about planes and who know the bolts and nuts of the business.

And many more in Tagalog

B747-800

10th Dec 2008, 21:24

fruit juices maker airline with cpt. loudmouth as ceo!

will be gone again in less than a year's time. just relax.:ok:

plane whisperer

11th Dec 2008, 05:44

I think that atleast there are people providing good job opportunities for many out there in need of work.These are just birth pangs,Zest is after all,a new airline despite its Asian Spirit roots.Management,owner and operational philosophies have changed.

What company has ever started out sans the difficulties?,and besides things at Zest are NOT as bad as some would lead you to believe.Problems that have been highlighted in this thread are being rectified as we speak.

Folks,these are just teething problems and I only wish that there were more people like Mr.Yao and co. with the daring to compete against the big players.Heck,alot of Christmases have been saved due to the break provided by such start ups and I;m not just talking about pilots,but office guys,mechanics etc alike.
By the way,watch out for the Airbus arriving within the week,dont ask me how I know I just do hehe:ok:
Regards guys and a Merry Christmas to all of you :)

sanamagan

11th Dec 2008, 06:06

All the best mate! Bring the Bus home safely ok? :ok:

plane whisperer

11th Dec 2008, 06:10

You bet!:)

mandaragit

11th Dec 2008, 11:58

planewhisperer,

i completely agree with you. all of us pilots should be wishing success for this new or any new upcoming airline company. they are(airline companies) afterall, our employers. there are now many new filipino pilots who need employment after spending quite a sum in a flying school.

blueforce

11th Dec 2008, 22:09

planewhisperer

thanks for the good news.

any word on the other MA60s?

plane whisperer

12th Dec 2008, 06:51

Hi Blueforce.I think one MA60 will arrive within next week also if what I hear is true.In any case one bus is already ready for ferry with others following very shortly.

Very eye catching livery and I cant help but say that I never thought that our well known and loved juice drink colors would actually look good on a bus :)

blueforce

14th Dec 2008, 11:30

well and good for Zest.

any connection to Zest?

thank you.

ads1963

15th Dec 2008, 23:54

Watta shame:

http://stella-arnaldo.*************/search/label/Butch%20Rodriguez

Roaches attack Zest Air passengers...eeew! (http://stella-arnaldo.*************/2008/12/roaches-attack-zest-air-passengerseeew.html)

LAST week I received an email w/c apparently has been making the rounds of several friends in the tourism business and email groups. I am publishing it to warn travelers about the hazards of riding on Zest Airways (formerly Asian Spirit), which in the past, I've written about because they flew w/o any insurance. I forwarded the same email to Butch Rodriguez, the carrier's VP for Commercial Affairs and official spokesman, but have not received any reaction to email writer Ms. Polintan's concerns.

Gee, Seair's Nikos Gitsis must be thanking his lucky stars he didn't accept the buy-out offer of Zest Airways' Alfredo Yao.

Here's the email:
On Tue, 11/25/08, Marge Polintan <******@yahoo.com> wrote:

Customer Relations/ZEST AIR:

We are a party of 17 (15 adults and 2 minors) who all took the Manila-Caticlan on Nov. 22 and returned to Manila on Nov. 24 via Kalibo-Manila when our return flight was diverted from Caticlan to Kalibo.

We checked in all 17 of us at Caticlan about 4:10PM only to be told that we have to motor to Kalibo as our flight was diverted. When we asked why, we were given the most stupid reasons that only a moron can accept. Your MR. RODEL URGUELLES informed us that the plane could not take off as sunset was at 5:20. (1) Our flight was supposed to leave at 5:00PM so clearly we would have been up in the sky when sunset was supposedly setting in. (2) Another stupid reason given to us was that the Caticlan airport had no runway lights making it impossible for us to take off!!!! Why in heaven's name do you schedule late afternoon flights knowing that the Caticlan airport is not fitted with lights (I seriously doubt if is this is true). (3) We also asked why we were not contacted to let us know that they were moving our flight earlier. They were able to contact us before we left Manila that our departure was moved to an earlier time. (4) We informed your Mr Urguelles that we had a pregnant lady in our party and were concerned about the long trip from Caticlan to Kalibo. We were asking for a guarantee that should she suffer a miscarriage, the airline will be made answerable for it. Of course he could not give any guarantee. Having no choice we took the risk and motored to Kalibo for a good one hour motor ride. Upon reaching Kalibo, we found out that two other Zest Air flights were likewise diverted. We were made to wait some more as the planes coming from Manila were delayed. I surmised that this was the main reason why our flights were moved from Caticlan to Kalibo.

We were finally herded to an airplane for our flight to Manila. With grumbling stomachs and exhausted from the trip from Caticlan, we had to make our way inside the airplane in darkness. When we asked the flight attendant why there were NO cabin lights, we got another STUPID response and were informed that they are conserving energy and therefore we have to grope for our seats in darkness without any airconditioning. Madilim na Mainit pa!!!!!! What would have been a one hour flight seemed like an eternity as it took us about an hour and a half to reach Manila in darkness.

Having undergone all these nerve wracking experience what was more irritating apart from the stupidity of your staff is the fact that they did not even offer any apology for all the inconvenience we were experiencing. I think you should all go back to school and take courses on basics of good manners, effective management and people skills. Your staff is sorely lacking in all of these!!!!!!

This is our first and last time we are flying ZEST AIR. You can be assured that the 17 of us will be your worst advertisement and will make it a point to inform all our friends and other concerned agencies.

Passengers
MARGARITA S. POLINTAN
LUIS MANUEL S. POLINTAM N
MIA MARGARITA S. POLINTAN
JOSEFINA S CRISTOBAL
MARIANO CRISTOBAL III
RIZZA JOIE CRISTOBAL
EMMANUEL UBIADAS
CATHERINE UBIADAS
GABRILLE ERIN UBIADAS (Minor)
VIRGINIA AGALOOS
BERNARDO AGALOOS III
AILEEN AGALOOS
RACHEL EUSTAQUIO
BERNADETTE NEWELL
ZANDRA NEWELL
ANDREW NEWELL (Minor)
TIMOTHY BLANK
AFTER two weeks, below is the response of Zest Air's Customer relations department. Geez, not even a personal call to apologize to Ms. Polintan? No offer of a comp hassle-free trip next time? How totally lacking in respect for their passengers. Tsk, tsk.

From: Customer relations
To: Marge Polintan <****** @yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 3, 2008 3:53:54 PM
Subject: Re: [stcqchs'65] Fw: ZEST AIR/ASIAN SPIRIT NEVER AGAIN-A HARROWING EXPERIENCE

Mam,

I apologize for the inconvenience and have noted your concerns and complaints, the old planes will be grounded and 5 new planes will be in placed.

Best regards
NOW I know Rodel Arguelles, who has been Asian Spirit's Caticlan station manager for the longest time. I've never had a problem w/ him. He has been one of the more efficient employees I know in Asian Spirit. So I'm not so sure what has happened to him. Could be a reflection in the change of management style and their policies.

And yaaak! Ipis! I've also heard that the planes' toilets are not cleaned well. Plain soap and water are used instead of that blue toilet-duck product. So Zest Air management would rather cut expenses that make sure their passengers are safe from health risks huh? Sweet.

There was a time when Asian Spirit was one of the best and most efficient budget carriers in the country. Now that it's been transformed to Zest Air, it is just sh**. Sad.

And another

http://stella-arnaldo.*************/search/label/Asian%20Spirit

Disillusioned (http://stella-arnaldo.*************/2008/06/disillusioned.html)

CONTINUING my tirade about Asian Spirit, I really had high hopes for this airline, which in the past, had merely suffered from the lack of proper marketing support and strategy. I had so believed in the leadership and abilities of its new owner, Zest-O king Alfredo Yao, who became my idol especially after interviewing him, and finding out how much he had struggled to become the success that he is today. I was amazed at how humble he still remained, despite his fame and fortune.

What was memorable in that interview was his response to my question on advice he could give to new entrepreneurs. This is what he said:
“If you’re just starting in business, get out of your comfort zone. Being an entrepreneur is really hard work in the beginning. Keep your focus. But more than anything, you must take care to earn the respect of your colleagues and suppliers. You can only do this by having word of honor in any transaction. Success doesn’t come overnight, but by being decent and honest in all your dealings, it will help you in the long run. By word of mouth, people will know you. ’Pag sinabi mong magbabayad ka ng utang, for example, magbayad ka. It is sad that nowadays, this trait, of being trustworthy or having word of honor, has slowly disappeared.(See Look to the Sky (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/05072008/perspective01.html), BusinessMirror, May 7, 2008)
I find it really hysterical for him to say something like that and completely do the opposite...e.g. miss payment (http://stella-arnaldo.*************/2008/06/feng-shui-and-sulpicio-lines.html) again on his carrier's insurance premium, after he himself committed to pay Prudential Guarantee by a certain deadline. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

I dunno about you, but I am certainly disillusioned and puzzled by Mr. Yao's behavior.

What's the meaning of this?

http://stella-arnaldo.*************/2008/06/feng-shui-and-sulpicio-lines.html

WELL, well, what's this I hear? Another transport company just had their offices blessed and feng shui'ed last Wednesday, June 25, 2008.

http://bp3.blogger.com/_Iwj7VoMGkmY/SGUcGsI-8JI/AAAAAAAAA9A/gPAgjQISqbE/s200/asian_spirit_logo_vertical.jpg (http://bp3.blogger.com/_Iwj7VoMGkmY/SGUcGsI-8JI/AAAAAAAAA9A/gPAgjQISqbE/s1600-h/asian_spirit_logo_vertical.jpg)According to my sources, Asian Spirit had a feng shui ceremony that day, which coincidentally, was the day the airline committed to pay the premium it owed its insurer, Prudential Guarantee. One of the quirky things that happened was during the blessing ceremony, all women who gave birth this year were told to leave the offices, as they are considered unlucky I suppose.

You would expect that all things would have gone well for Asian Spirit from then on. (If you recall, the airline had seriously jeopardized its passengers who flew on its planes from June 19-23, 2008, because the carrier had no insurance. See my earlier blog entries.)

Sorry to disappoint you feng shui believers out there. Because by the end of the day, AIG London, Prudential Guarantee's reinsurer, sent the airline a Notice of Cancellation of its insurance policy after...gasp! missing the deadline to pay Prudential! Ay anovayan Ambassador Yao!

Of course, by next morning, June 26, Prudential Guarantee was paid. Pero sa true lang, ano pa ang silbi ng feng shui kung inefficient naman ang management ng airline na ito? To think nag-PR pa sila saying they were mounting "mercy flights" to Kalibo, Aklan, and San Jose, Antique, ferrying relief goods for the victims of Typhoon Frank. Tsk, tsk. Bilib na sana ako pero...wa din.

Attention Director Carmelo Arcilla of the Civil Aeronautics Board...hoy gising!

Reading this article above one can have the feeling that the airline is not properly insured!

eagle135

20th Dec 2008, 03:30

Zest Air brings 4 planes to Clark

By Riza T. Olchondra
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 08:09:00 12/18/2008

Filed Under: Air Transport (http://services.inquirer.net/tagcloud/keyword.php?tag=Air Transport&id=178&imp=)

Zest Air, formerly Asian Spirit, brought four new aircraft into the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in preparation for international and domestic flights from the new Philippine gateway, Clark International Airport Corp. said Wednesday.
Zest Air has acquired three M-60 airplanes with a capacity of 56 seats and one Airbus A320 with 162. These arrived at the Clark civil aviation complex through the DMIA.
Airline president and chief executive Alfredo Yao said another Airbus A320 was to arrive Jan. 3, and two more were expected to arrive in mid-2009.
Yao said Zest Air’s plans included flights to Hong Kong, Incheon in South Korea, Macau, Xiamen and Shanghai in China, and Bangkok in Thailand out of DMIA. Edited by INQUIRER.net

ads1963

23rd Dec 2008, 01:04

How mismanaged is that airline! They don't pay back the fares for flights because they have not enough cash on hand. They collect for flights which never operate and let the passenger believe that the flight will be operating!

Renaissance in progress... - The Batanes Disaster that is called ZestAir! (http://randallcipriano.multiply.com/journal/item/20/The_Batanes_Disaster_that_is_called_ZestAir)

The Batanes Disaster that is called ZestAir! (http://randallcipriano.multiply.com/journal/item/20/The_Batanes_Disaster_that_is_called_ZestAir)

After months of slow but clear planning; I, together with Jay Jallorina was finally all set and booked for Basco, Batanes! It was a dream destination of mine especially after getting a glimpse of what Batanes had to offer through Jay's shots from the Epson sponsored event a few months ago which was also published and made cover in Digital Photographer Philippines' Issue 22: Coast to Coast. Great light, crashing waves, rocks, and huge sea stacks... what more would a landscape photographer ask for?

Booking a flight was hassle free on my part through ZestAir's online facility (except that I had to follow-up on the E-Ticket twice before it was finally faxed/emailed to me). Though Jay had a problem since the online system wasn't accepting his credit cards. It was quickly remedied by a trip to the ZestAir ticketing office in Makati. On the evening of November 17, Jay texted me that we were go with our flight leaving December 28 for Basco and eventually we would be coming back to Manila on January 4. That's roughly 7 days of exploring and shooting Batanes! It finally all came together... or so it seemed.

I received a message from Jay yesterday, almost 1 month after booking, that ZestAir abruptly cancelled our flights for "Operational Reasons". I have no idea what those operational reasons are but they are cancelling all Sunday flights to Basco immediately. Weird thing is, I never received a call/email from ZestAir regarding the cancellation of our flights. I only knew because Jay got the call, but not me. I am tempted to assume that if Jay wasn't informed, I would be left hanging in the air come the day of the flight.

Anyway, after a few minutes of going through the phase of being angry, sad, to acceptance; I decided to calm down and look for alternative flights. Of course, I wasn't going to look to ZestAir, by that time they were already scratched from my good book. Looking at the bright side, we thought we could just refund the money and book a flight elsewhere. Fortunately, SeaAir still had flights to Basco on the 26th and a Manila bound flight on the 3rd of January. It was 3 thousand pesos more expensive than that of ZestAir's but it had to do. We were still determined to push through no matter what.

So today, Jay and I went to ZestAir's ticketing office in Makati. Jay made his sincere, guilt-casting speech towards the staff while I learning from the past, (when I complain to staff, I usually get so riled up to the point of being unreasonable and flat down furious) decided to keep quiet. Jay got his refund immediately since he paid cash over the counter when he booked. I on the other hand was a different sad story. I was informed that I was getting my refund as a charge back to my credit card. When I asked how long it would take, the sales agent said, "30 to 60 days depending on the bank's cut-off". What the f*ck!!! Add to that, the agent said that she was already sending my appeal for a refund. Appeal?! Was she kidding me? We were the one's getting screwed and we're the one's who need to make an appeal?!? Apparently, I also had to make my own personal "appeal" towards the online booking facility to get my refund. Talk about customer service! Craptastic policies!

Fortunately I had some extra funds that I got from my company's yearly Christmas gifts. It was supposed to go to bills payments and buying gifts for Christmas but alas, ZestAir totally destroyed my December budget.

After that ordeal, we made our way to SeaAir's ticketing office to book our flights which went smoothly enough. We've rescheduled our trip to the 26th to January 3. A bit longer than expected but atleast it'll give us more time to shoot. Hopefully, all goes well with SeaAir.

A word to the wise, if you're booking a flight, I do not recommend ZestAir unless it's a last resort. Unfortunately, the brand restructuring of Asian Spirit to Zest Airways only made it worse.

Taken from their slogan, here's to ZESTAIR... ALL AIR, NO ZEST! THERE'S A NEW PEST IN THE AIR! ASIA'S MOST INFURIATING AIRLINE!

I love the last sentence:

ZESTAIR... ALL AIR, NO ZEST! THERE'S A NEW PEST IN THE AIR! ASIA'S MOST INFURIATING AIRLINE!

http://freeze-mythoughts.*************/2008/10/whats-in-tagline.html#links

What's in a Tagline? (http://freeze-mythoughts.*************/2008/10/whats-in-tagline.html)

A tagline is a branding slogan, a phrase that will reflect the product's concept or otherwise, it's a marketing tool to create a desired image in line with the company's mission.

In the Philippines, banks for one has taglines like "you're in good hands" with Metrobank and BDO has "we find ways". The former connotes confidence building while the latter aims convenience banking; both have somehow lived up to their tag line.

SM Malls goes for "we got it all for you" while Ayala Malls "because you deserve more", then there's Max's "sarap to the bones", Jollibee's "langhap sarap". Some claims ownership like Coca-cola's "coke ko 'to" and McDonald's "love ko 'to".

Even countries market their tourism sector with phrases like Wow Philippines, Amazing Thailand, Sparkling Korea, Uniquely Singapore...

Airlines like Cebu Pacific failed to live up to it's on time track record so they changed it's tag line from "99% on time" to "it's time everyone flies CP". The latter is a shift in marketing strategy to dominate the market by offering absurdly low fares. While PAL changed from "Asia's sunniest" to "It's about experience" to "Clearly No. 1", to highlight some facts or make a statement.

Asian Spirit on the otherhand recently changed it's name to Zest Airways, following it's new owner's Zest-O brand for drinks. By changing it's name it can save itself from the mockery of being tagged as "leave as asians, land as spirits". But what really struck me is their new tagline - "Asia's most refreshing airline." Duh, what's that again? I wonder what that tagline aims to convey or simply a lame effort to relate the word "zest" with "airlines". I hope it doesn't mean fresh air, the last time I boarded Asian Spirit, a fan is provided, that came in handy since there is barely cool airconditioning throughout the flight. Nevertheless, this is a welcome development to all travelers and a renewed challenge to the airline industry.

ads1963

23rd Dec 2008, 14:38

Another passenger with complaints:

Owen's Travel Site (http://owenferrer.multiply.com/tag/travel%20ramblings)

Zest Air Is Unfair! - DO NOT BUY ZEST AIR TICKET! (http://owenferrer.multiply.com/journal/item/50/Zest_Air_Is_Unfair_-_DO_NOT_BUY_ZEST_AIR_TICKET)Dec 1, '08 9:35 AM
for everyone
just one of my travel ramblings...

zest air is aka bwizest air
zest air is also zhet air
zest air is unfair
zest air is the worst in the air

i am one of their victims
i bought 4 tickets with them
and all of those 4 tickets
were just changed and not followed

and i know many more victims to this
those travel joiners i had
that have to cancel the tour
because zest air changed their schedule

it could be the right of the airline
but this time its clear that
they abused their passenger
by having promo that were not true

i will file a law case with zest air
i will wish them close shop
i will recommend not to buy zest air ticket
i hope they stop their craziness.

Wonder how they'll refund all of their passengers which bought tickets for the holidays and only 2 MA60 and one DASH7 is flying? Will they charge it again to their cashflow?

ads1963

23rd Dec 2008, 14:44

Wisps of Hair and Tiny Sprays of Water Asian Spirit my A (http://angkulet.blog.friendster.com/2008/11/asian-spirit-my-a/)

Asian Spirit my A (http://angkulet.blog.friendster.com/2008/11/asian-spirit-my-a/)
< Asian Spirit, now known as Zest-Air, is so far the worst airline I have ever encountered. They cancelled our flight to Batanes on questionable reasons, cancelled my flight to Virac due to ’scheduled maintenance’ and even cancelled my mother’s along with 10 other friends’s flight to Coron for reasons I did not bother to ask. As if it’s not enough that they cancelled the flights, in my case, the Virac flight has been cancelled for two weeks but they never bothered to call me to inform me. In my mother’s case, they transferred the passengers to other airlines like Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines and never bothered to inform their passengers. People got the news through word of mouth, from one passenger who bothered to inquire about the flight to another and onto another. In my case, what made it worse is I had to keep dialling their hotline for three straight days to verify if my Virac flight was really cancelled and never got to talk to anyone. When i finally did, I was put on hold for 10 minutes at a time for about five times, and this is not a joke or an exaggeration but I actually fainted for having to stand for almost an hour as I decided to use a pay phone instead of my cell phone, while in the middle of the conversation with the stupidest customer service representative alive. We ended paying almost five thousand in hospital bills because we were worried about the baby and had tests done to make sure everything was okay.
The [stupidest] customer service representative said I was entitled to full refund for all my fully-paid credit card-charged tickets and she said to expect the refund within 30 days.
Since I cannot get the P14,500 back in cash from the credit card company, I decided to shop and charge the purchases to my credit card. That is how I got to find out that travel actually costs so much. The following is the equivalent of 3 round-trip tickets:
Canon Pixma ip1700 (my HP printer refused to turn on and HP informed me they are already at their ‘end-of-support’ for my printer model)
16 window curtains
1K worth of supplies from National Bookstore
Christmas presents for 13 people (yes, I do my Christmas shopping reeeally early)
Birthday present for 1 person
8 place mats
3 sets of kitchen containers
2 shower curtains
2 bathroom mats
2 original limited-edition CDs
and last but not the least, 5 light bulbs. (Reminds me of the jokes, how many whatevers does it take to change a light bulb?)
It turned out to be one hell of a realization. P14,500 converted to things other than airline tickets turns out to be a lot. If the trips have not been cancelled we would’ve spent another twenty thousand more in food, fare, accomodations and other miscellaneous expenses. That is how I came to decide to put a limit to all these travels. A thousand here and there piles up to become ten thousand, and then, it’s not cheap anymore.
Now, back to more Asian Spirit hassles, I would have been happy enough with the purchases I was able to make with my refunded 14,500; except that it has been more than 30 days and there is not a trace of my money. I would like to do some follow-up on this refund, but that involves calling the hotline (it is so hot that you’ll faint when you get on it) again. Meanwhile, my credit card charges are piling up finance charges day after day. Okay, it’s my fault that I tried to get my money back so soon. Can anyone blame me if I was so depressed by this turn of events that I had to resort to hoarding curtains and other household stuff?
Life, as always, more often than not, sucks.

November 6th, 2008 at 5:14 pm

5 Responses to “Asian Spirit my A”
<LI class=alt id=comment-24>1
Dan Waldron (http://www.customerservicehelper.com/) says:
Nice site. Theres some good information on here. Ill be checking back regularly.
November 6, 2008 @ 5:16 pm <LI class="" id=comment-25>2
Susan Kishner (http://www.apersonalfinanceguide.com/) says:
I discovered your homepage by coincidence.
Very interesting posts and well written.
I will put your site on my blogroll. http://angkulet.blog.friendster.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif
November 6, 2008 @ 5:19 pm <LI class=alt id=comment-27>3
Brian says:
Ayoko na sa Asian Spirit. Muntik na akong mag-book ng Batanes sa Feb. Tsk.
November 6, 2008 @ 6:15 pm <LI class="" id=comment-28>4
Oye says:
Subukan naman ang Zest-Air!
November 7, 2008 @ 5:22 am
5
Joms (http://marijo-pabilonia.*************;magicbiskwit.multiply.com/) says:
Angku, nko!! same experience… inabot ng 4days ang rebooking nung cancelled flight natin sa Batanes sa Feb! Ang bastos nung supervisor, ni wala silang maayos na hold procedure at nkabisado ko na yta ung jingle nila sa haba ng hold. Imagine 1hour yta ung inabot nung call na un. 5minutes lang ung talk time dun, the rest — hold time and dead air. ^_^ buti na lang wala nmn bad nangyari sau and the baby.. be safe always!
November 7, 2008 @ 7:14 pm

basic

25th Dec 2008, 07:42

They canceled they're bookings especially batanes because Chief Pilot "Boy putik" can't even land the MA60! with strong winds! maybe he is afraid to overshoot the aircraft.

"Guess what"!!!!! For the first time the FIFTH brand new MA60 Failed to be ferried from CLARK to MANILA because the pilot Capt.LINE CHECKER forgot to apply parking brake while he was strarting the A/c and he blame the mechanic for not placing the chocks on the wheels. from what i know who would go out there and get those chock while the A/C is starting?!!!.btw, there was a damaged to the wing i dont know where it hit maybe some tree! LOL!.

The company is really in big mess lots of old school pilots are so proud of who they are and pretend to control over things and there are a lot who is pretenders. there is war between Aircraft to Aircraft! Yikes!

Capt. "M" failed twice on the Airbus training program so other went abroad and flew the BAE. the info came from the assistant chief pilot of the MA60.

Different company, different Aircraft but same old SH***t. if the culture doesn't stop there will be no changes. so the mess isn't just with the passenger but inside the company aswell.

One more thing MA60 First Batch pilots are not yet done with they're IOE (Initial Operating Experience) Capt. BOY PUTIK is choosing who he wants to get into IOE fast. they have 2 instructors who does not know how to speak English!!! and they need a translator for every flight! what the heck! and one more thing these guys are just waiting for they're schedule for almost 3 months. they cant even celebrate a very nice Christmas no money sila!

when will Yao stop listening to CPT. LOUD MOUTH?!

Capt VP operations! Do something! atleast your the last resort for the Company!

well i spilled the beans this time. Merry Christmas! lets wait what will happen with company next year.

ads1963

26th Dec 2008, 07:19

Here is the answer to all their mischief and incompency:

Zest Airways - Asia's most refreshing airline. (http://www.asianspirit.com/oath_of_allegiance.htm)

OATH OF ALLEGIANCE

We, the bonafide employees of ZEST AIR
Do solemnly pledge our allegiance to this company
And to the industry that it represents
With pride, honor and dignity.
That we will wholeheartedly devote our skills, knowledge, expertise
and energy to the extent most favorable to the interest of ZEST AIR.

That WE WILL WORK AS A TEAM and remain as one no matter
what adversity may come. That we will truthfully represent ZEST
AIR as employees filled with zest, life, enthusiasm, excitement,
and vibrance toward our work.

That this oath will always have its meaning in our hearts and minds
and will serve as a reminder, not merely meaningless words but an
oath bound by commitment and sincerity.

TOGETHER WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THIS DREAM HAPPEN!
TOGETHER WE ARE GOING TO UNLEASH THE ZEST IN EACH
AND EVERYONE OF US!

For the common good of all, for the greater Glory of God and this
Country.

May God help us.

Mabuhay Zest Air!!!

You guys in the Philippines seem to like Perjury cause its not a crime and anyone can give an oath and do what everybody wants to do and not violating his or her oath.

I have seen that in political happening but never in an airline. Airlines are going for different type of certifications but not for an oath of allegiance. But in Zest Air you can do what you want cause you have sworn that you do nothing bad and the worst for the industry is still the best for Zest Air and nobody will charge you for perjury because you are assumed as "innocent" till prooven guilty in court.

Perjury - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perjury)

Perjury, also known as forswearing, is the act of lying or making verifiably false statements on a material matter under oath (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath) or affirmation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affirmation) in a court (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court) of law or in any of various sworn statements in writing. It is important that the false statement be material to the case at hand—that it could affect the outcome of the case. It is not considered perjury, for example, to lie about one's age, unless that person's age is a key factor in proving the case.

Perjury is considered a serious offense as it can be used to usurp the power of the courts, resulting in miscarriages of justice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscarriages_of_justice). In the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States), for example, the general perjury statute under Federal law provides for a prison sentence of up to five years, and is found at 18 U.S.C. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_18_of_the_United_States_Code) § 1621 (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/1621.html). See also 28 U.S.C. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_28_of_the_United_States_Code) § 1746 (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/28/1746.html). In the United Kingdom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom) the penalty for perjury is a prison sentence of up to seven years, however prosecutions for perjury are rare.

The rules for perjury also apply to witnesses who have affirmed they are telling the truth. Affirmation is used by a witness who is unable to swear to tell the truth. For example, in the United Kingdom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom) a witness may swear on the Bible (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible) or other holy book. If a witness has no religious beliefs, or does not wish to swear on a holy book, the witness may make an affirmation he or she is telling the truth instead.

Collecting money from paying passengers and knowing very well that the flight will not operate and than keeping the pax's money for 60 days is a crime but again not in the Banana Island Republic of the Philippines!

You will work most favourable for Zest Air but not for your clients cause you cheat them! There is really something wrong in that wanna be "airline".

Just wondering were blueforce and B747-800 are? they seem to have been paid-off already not to give their insights anymore or did they fall asleep?

mandaragit

27th Dec 2008, 05:53

ads...3

you are really relentless in your efforts of disparaging, discrediting this airline. what motivates you? your hatred must be so deep against this one person who happen to be positioned in the airline. is it envy? did he refuse you entry into the same airline? are you a pilot? your english is not level 4 compliant so you must be still a wannabe? why do you seek b474-800 and blueforce? are you finding your crusade a lonely and forlorn misadventure?

do you see them violating any rules or regulations? why don't you report them to CAAP? are you afraid you cannot stand up to your own objectives? do you want this airline to shut down? nevermind the hundreds of filipino employees earning their livelihood thru this airline. nevermind that the other airlines have their own bit of these passenger complaints also. you must only focus on this particular airline because of this hatred festering in your bones.

i consider you a true blue, genuine, filipino crab! no new year for you!

ads1963

29th Dec 2008, 02:41

I don’t know personally any of the guys involved in the management/ownership of the airline but I have heard from my friends over in the Philippines about them. If I am not mistaken, I have met Cpt. Loudmoth on a few occasions during layovers in KSFO during his time in PAL when he was already a Napoleon type of pilot.

My English is as good or as bad as anyone else English but what does this have to do with the ways the airline is run?

I have received several mails in response to my postings from the Philippines and I was given valuable information about the operation of Asian Spirit/Zest Air in the past. I can see that this airline is going the way of One-Two-Go here in Thailand http://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/292331-md80-plane-crash-phuket-sep-07-a.html and this because there are some stooges in the management who do not know how to manage an airline at all.

Basic said it very well in his posting http://www.pprune.org/south-asia-far-east/321976-asian-spirit-under-new-management-7.html#post4611002 (http://www.pprune.org/south-asia-far-east/321976-asian-spirit-under-new-management-7.html#post4611002):

when will Yao stop listening to CPT. LOUD MOUTH?!

Capt VP operations! Do something! At least your the last resort for the Company!

These guys do not know how to run an airline and it looks also to me that the VP Operation is the last insider who is knowledgeable and capable to replace CPT. LOUDMOUTH. Otherwise they would have to resort to “pirating” managers from other airlines – as they did in the past – and who wants to join an outfit like that except for people who are considered “dead wood” and ineffective. You can see it in the people who joined them (VP Marketing etc.) Other airlines were happy when they left because they knew of their limited capacity and they were just a burden to the other airlines and are now considered “valuable assets” of this “airline” aka general aviation operator of larger planes.

I think your perception of an airline is wrong! It’s definitely not about job creation but about money making and service. If an airline does not provide proper service it can not make money because nobody will fly with it and pay money for their tickets. No investor in his right mind will put up an airline to create jobs. Did you ever study in college? Economics comes first before you can decide to create jobs and your business plan execution will determine the profitability of your business and if the management are mis-managers the owner is in trouble.

The payment for nonexistent flights is a form of fraud. The pax is offered and has paid for something which does not exist and his money is held by the airline inside their daily cash flow. So the airline works with the pax’s hard earned money and keeps it for 60 days or more because the airline claims the credit card company is not crediting them back within 60 days.

A good service policy and not an oath of allegiance would be the proper way to go. But again the airline goofed up on this.

Haven’t you learned in college the following principlaes in managing a successful company?

1. Leadership:First of all, you need good leadership (http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/leadership_main.html). Great leaders raise the aspirations of their followers; they make people more confident, energetic (http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/people_energizing.html) and enthusiastic (http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/people_inspiring.html). Such leaders make people embrace the adage: a plausible impossibility is better than a convincing possibility. People, who are motivated (http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/motivating_main.html) by great leaders, dream big, make sacrifices and achieve miracles. It is not sufficient just to have great leaders.
You need a mechanism to identify, train, empower and mentor successive generations of leaders. Such leadership training and mentoring (http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/leadership_development.html) has to become the responsibility of the current generation of leaders.
2. Vision: You have to create a grand, noble vision (http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/vision_mission_strategy.html) which elevates the energy (http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/employee_energizing.html), enthusiasm and self-esteem of everyone in the company while ensuring that everybody sees a benefit in following the vision.
3. Benchmarking: Your company has to benchmark (http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/benchmarking.html) itself on a global scale in every area including sales, production, human resources, R&D and finance. It creates an open and confident environment where first-raters recruit first-raters.
4. Measuring To Improve: A great company continuously measures (http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/mgmt_measurement-system.html) and improves (http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/im_cif_main.html) the following attributes: meritocracy, fairness, justice, openness, speed (http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/change_speedmoving.html), imagination and excellence in execution.
5. Shared Values:A great company practices an enduring value system (http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/shared_values.html), and follows the finest system of corporate governance.

If not, go back to school and study so that you get your goals into line.

And for your information: I am not a Pinoy but a mixed Thai/French national. So much to your statement:

i consider you a true blue, genuine, filipino crab!

And forget your CAAP because they are still rotten to the core and nothing has changed since the good old days when it was still called ATO. We are facing the same problems here in Thailand.

FLEXPWR

29th Dec 2008, 11:10

Hi, anybody know who I can contact in management/training OPS?

Any PM appreciated, thanks.

FLX

cncalpha

30th Dec 2008, 04:18

Hope Mr. Zest.. is quicker than LG of 5J, took him years to find out what the hulk was up to.

eagle135

3rd Jan 2009, 00:51

Air Aceh
New start up LCC backed by Banda Aceh regional government 51% and Malaysian group 49%.operating BAE ATP
First ac awaiting delivery from former operator Asian Spirit second week of Jan
Second ac expected last week Jan from Int Air Parts UK formally operated by Emerald Airways.
Looking for rated captains and engineers for immediate start.for more info PM poster or email

http://www.pprune.org/?emailimage=b55ca8e757f2b90b2c8b04823eec5617

B747-800

7th Jan 2009, 11:41

Just wondering were blueforce and B747-800 are? they seem to have been paid-off already not to give their insights anymore or did they fall asleep?

haven’t been paid off by anybody yet but admit I fell into a holiday sleep during the x-mas leave. and guess what? visited the beautiful island girls in the philippines for about 3 weeks.

luckily i did bump into some pilots and aviation managers working in the philippines during parties and on boracay island. guess what: i didn’t fly zest air but seair to the white island.

and btw luckily i didn’t bump into cpt. loudmouth there but into one of his frustrated pilot who cried out his heart about the real circumstances and stories that are shaking up zest air.

maybe yao should fire ALL of his managers, except for his vp operations, settle the debts of zest air/aisian spirit and sell the aircraft asap. the guy has/had all good intentions to make a start-up airline successful but his coo/s, of whom zest air has several, are messing up his business plans really BIG TIME.

when will yao realize that he is taken for a ride and that he has to use his fist to get HIS airline into shape?

basic

8th Jan 2009, 03:47

And when will YAO. realized that most of his pilot on the ma60 wanted to get the position of a COO.

I notice that the group of the chief pilot are bragging so much of they're ma60 and trying to race to the finish line feeling that this planes is faster than the Q400, ATR and dornier. hmmm lets se,e winds are shifting this time in RWY24 in CATICLAN will just wait for some cold fronts and see what can ma60 do to land from 24 with gusty conditions

mandaragit

if you see some bad reaction already to your company why don't you make some actions. make those pilots act like professional one and get less on showbiz. did zest air pay them less that all they can do in they're life is to talk like a gay? , your lucky those airbus guys didn't join the group.try to check your turboprop pilots. they are worst than a truck driver.

One more thing. the MA60 is exceeding its performance limits in CATICLAN even the Chinese instructors refuses to land there well if there is weight penalty to comply then its OK . so passengers just be careful out they're.

First officer, try to act as pilots not just an operator or a captains maid. i know some of your captains are trying to be a single pilot on the Ma60 just like what Capt. M did on his training on the airbus. if he acts stupid do your job. if he kick you out of the company don't bother, there are more better equipment to fly. just pm me!

M- Mr.
A- Amogawin
60-60's
it show this aircraft is old just like the chief pilot.

one last thing. if the VP operations doesn't do his thing well those airbus will teach them some manners. although i am flying Boeing i shut my mouth if one airbus pilots brags something on his flight rather than an MA60 talking to me as if he is thinking that he is flying and B787.

ads1963

9th Jan 2009, 07:52

And on goes the saga of Zest Air over in the Philippines. Service seems to be NOT WRITTEN on their flag!

Untitled Document (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=alvinCapino_jan9_2009)

Horrible airline

Tourism, according to Senator Dick Gordon, has one of the bright prospects for the Philippines in the face of what appears as bleak prospects for 2009 because of the continuing international financial crisis.
However, there are many issues that the Tourism Department and other regulatory agencies would have to address for tourism, especially domestic tourism, to achieve its full potentials.

Take for example the experience of Marge S. Polintan when she and 16 other passengers took a Zest Air a.k.a. Asian Spirit flight from Boracay last Nov. 24.

The series of letters that Marge and her fellow passenger Josefina S. Cristobal has sent to Zest Air/Asian Spirit as well as to their friends is one of the hot items on the Internet next to blogs on the “Alabang Boys” and the “Valley Golf brawl.”

Their account of the poor service and unsanitary condition of the Zest Air/Asian Spirit plane is very discouraging for those who want fly the smaller airlines which, unfortunately, are the only ones serving many of the country’s airports.

Marge’s letter to Customer Relations of Zest Air said:
“We are a party of 17 [15 adults and two minors] who all took the Manila-Caticlan on Nov. 22 and returned to Manila on Nov. 24 via Kalibo-Manila when our return flight was diverted from Caticlan to Kalibo.

“We checked in, all 17 of us, at Caticlan about 4:10 p.m. only to be told that we had to motor to Kalibo as our flight was diverted. When we asked why, we were given the most stupid reasons that only a moron can accept. Your Mr. Rodel Urguelles informed us that the plane could not take off as sunset was at 5:20. (1) Our flight was supposed to leave at 5 p.m. so clearly we would have been up in the sky when sunset was supposedly setting in. (2) Another stupid reason given to us was that the Caticlan airport had no runway lights making it impossible for us to take off!!! Why in heaven’s sake do you schedule later afternoon flights knowing that the Caticlan airport is not fitted with lights [I seriously doubt if this is true]. (3) We also asked why we were not contacted to let us know that they were moving our flight earlier. They were able to contact us before we left Manila that our departure was moved to an earlier time. (4) We informed your Mr. Urguelles that we had a pregnant lady in our party and were concerned about the long trip from Caticlan to Kalibo. We were asking for a guarantee that should she suffer a miscarriage, the airline will be made answerable for it. Of course he could not give any guarantee. Having no choice we took the risk and motored to Kalibo for a good one hour. Upon reaching Kalibo, we found out that two other Zest Air flights were likewise diverted. We were made to wait some more as the planes coming from Manila were delayed. I surmised that this was the main reason why our flight were moved from Caticlan to Kalibo.

“We were finally herded to an airplane for our flight to Manila. With grumbling stomachs and exhausted from the trip from Caticlan, we had to make our way inside the airplane in total darkness. When we asked the flight attendant why there were no cabin lights, we got another STUPID response and were informed that they were conserving energy and therefore we have to grope for our seats in darkness without any airconditioning. Madilim na, mainit pa!!!!!! What would have been a one-hour flight seemed like an eternity as it took us about an hour and a half to reach Manila in darkness.

“Having undergone through all these nerve-wracking experience, what was more irritating apart from the stupidity of your staff is the fact that they did not even offer any apology for the inconvenience we were experiencing. I think that you should go back to school and take course on basics of good manners, effective management and people skills. Your staff is sorely lacking in all of these!”

Another passenger on that flight, Josefina S. Cristobal, also wrote Zest Air Customer Relations and she has an even more horrible story to tell:
“Customer Relations,

“Your airline just sucks! I am 54 years old and had the most horrible flight in my entire life in your airline! I am well traveled and never in my trips have encountered such rudeness and heard such unreasonable answers. I have told your ground staff that I am not fit to travel long trips since I have a bad back having diagnosed with slip disc and severe scoliosis, but for whatever reason, we had to take a long trip by bus to Kalibo, Aklan when what we agreed upon when we bought tickets was for your airline to shuttle us to Manila-Caticlan, Caticlan-Manila. You did not even have the decency to inform us that it is impossible to fly to Caticlan when sunset sets in. We felt so cheated and no amount of reasoning or explanation can justify this very bad act. We paid you up to the last centavo you charged us and we expected good service. But what we all got from this very tiring trip was a mere Jollibee spaghetti and bottled water. We were 17 in all and got only 16 packs.

“The other thing was that when we were already inside the pitch black plane, [we had to crawl to our seats since the pilots won’t turn on the lights to conserve energy] they did not even have flashlights. We were all so dead tired from the long trip and was already getting sleepy when one of our foreigner companions shouted at the top of her voice since small cockroaches started crawling on us. Oh, it was plenty. How unsanitary could you guys get? It just clearly shows that you don’t clean your airplanes. It had this awful smell once you board the plane so no wonder there were cockroaches. Almost all of us had to grab the newspapers tucked on the seats to kill the cockroaches as much as we could. No amount of apology could justify all this harrowing experience. Rest assured that this will be the first and last flight with your airline and we will tell our friends and family about this experience with Zest Air, the lousiest airline company ever.”

One would think that after receiving these nasty letters, the management of Zest Air/Air Spirit would go out of its way to apologize and placate their angry passengers. All Marge Polintan, Josefina Cristobal and company got was a short letter from Zest Air Customer Relations which read:

“Mam (sic)
“I apologize for the inconvenience and have noted your concerns and complaints, the old planes will be grounded and 5 new planes will be in placed (sic).”

After reading the letters there are some things that the disgruntled Zest Air passengers should understand:

1. Zest Air did not want to put on the lights so you would not see the cockroaches;

2. You should be thankful that the airline was thoughtful enough to provide newspapers in case that you see the small crawling cockroaches despite the darkness;

3. Why do you expect intelligent answers from what you describe as very stupid people.

Levity aside, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano should look at the operations of Zest Air/Air Spirit and see what corrective measures his department can make to correct the airlines’ abominable service.

Durano has been trying to promote Philippine tourism but stories like those from the passengers of the Nov. 24 Zest Air flight negates all his efforts. He should remember the communications principle that the fastest way to kill a bad product is to promote it.

basic

11th Jan 2009, 00:59

cockroaches? thats nothing! they cant even buy a new slide at the back of the a320 now they cant full load the plane.

hmmm, I heard an MA60 crash landed in caticlan. hard land? overshoot? undershoot? any info? that's what happen if a chief pilots has all kinds of five attitudes. i just hope that passengers are safe.

ads1963

11th Jan 2009, 03:46

Are the Philippines Civil Aviation Authority waiting till people are killed by this airline? Can nobody over there in the Philippines pull the plug on this unsafe and unprofessional operation before another accident will happen?

Three injured in Zest Air plane crash in Caticlan airport | ABS-CBN News Online Beta (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/01/11/09/three-injured-zest-air-plane-crash-caticlan-airport)

Three injured in Zest Air plane crash in Caticlan airport

Three passengers were injured after a Zest Air (formerly Asian Spirit) plane crashed Sunday morning at the Caticlan airport.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General Ben Ciron said that the airline's ZEST MA60 Aircraft Flight 865 undershot the Caticlan airport runway, leaving two children and one crew member injured.

"About 0657 am today, ZEST MA60 Aircraft Flight 865 undershot runway at Caticlan airport with 22 adult pax 2 children 1 staff member. No passengers suffered major injuries," Ciron said in a text message.

Reports said that strong winds caused the aircraft's landing gear to explode, hitting the barrier of the Caticlan airport at around 6:40 a.m. Sunday. After swerving 180 degrees, the plane was said to have crashed into the airport's passenger lounge.

The Caticlan runway was closed because of the incident, causing a Cebu Pacific ATR aircraft to be grounded in the Caticlan airport.

In the meantime, flights to and from Caticlan will continue to operate from Kalibo airport until further notice.

B747-800

12th Jan 2009, 10:30

i put my ideas in summary already in the more active thread: http://www.pprune.org/4634636-post137.html

ads1963

21st Jan 2009, 20:48

According to information from Manila, Zest Air has difficulties in getting their 2nd A320 into the air. The aircraft is not being given a CofA because Zest Air can not show that they have the proper procedures in place to operate this type of plane safely.

What's really going on over there?

Zest Air proceeds with refleeting plans | ABS-CBN News Online Beta (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/01/14/09/zest-air-proceeds-refleeting-plans)

Zest Air proceeds with refleeting plans
Zest Air said that despite a recent airport runway incident in Caticlan airport, it will continue its re-fleeting program this year.
Formerly called Asian Spirit, the local airline now controlled by food and drinks businessman Alfred Yao, said it received a new Airbus 320 for its refleeting program just a day before one of its smaller aircrafts made a hard landing at the Caticlan airport in Aklan province.

Zest Air director Arturo Alejandrino said the its second Airbus 320 will be delivered soon, highlighting that the
company's refleeting program will proceed as scheduled.

On Sunday, one of Zest Air's new turbo propeller plane made a hard landing on the runway of Caticlan and hit the tarmac's barrier, leaving a number of its passengers injured. It also causing other planes to reroute, delaying passengers bound for the popular island paradise Boracay.

The incident caused the temporary closure of Caticlan airport on Sunday. The airport resumed operations on Monday afternoon.

Alejandrino said the airline was making the necessary procedures to make sure that the incident would not happen again.

The airline has ten daily flights between Manila and Caticlan. It also serves 19 provincial destinations.

The airline was planning to become a regional carrier, with flights to Hong Kong, Korea, Macau, China, and Thailand from its base in Clark.

ads1963

27th Jan 2009, 08:22

Just wondering how many aircraft are flying. They should have 3 DHC-7, 5......sorry 4 MA60 and 2 A320 but how many of them are really operating?

blueforce

27th Jan 2009, 15:46

DASH7 NIL (0) :ugh:
MA60 THREE (3)
A320 1 ONE (1)

F Y I

B747-800

30th Jan 2009, 02:25

does this yao and his people know how to run an airline or is this just a money laundering machine for somebody? who is really incharge there? cpt. loudmouth throwing out money of yao by the window or is there any other sinister thought behind such an unprofitable and unprof ops?

questions over questions but now answers YET!

crossingthreshold

31st Jan 2009, 01:05

Fleet of 5 new MA60s, down to 3 in just a few months? :=

Two airbus, only one able to fly? Bery expensive, lah! :ooh:

How long before Mr. Y gives up? How long before he sez "No mas"?

B747-800

31st Jan 2009, 10:48

its worst than you think! yao has invested mybe US$ 150m or more. his daily income might not even be sufficient to pay for the fuel and atc bill.

what surprisses me is that the 2nd a320 is still on the ground in rpll since more than 3 weeks after its ferry from the us. is there something wrong with the aircraft? maybe jetblue sold him a rotten apple? who knows!

thrust clb

2nd Feb 2009, 11:01

does Yao even have a slightest idea that his Airline is the laughing stock of the whole Philippine Airline Industry? Assuming a $300,000 monthly lease on an A320..that's $10,000 daily. One is always parked, and the other one barely flies. "Asia's most refreshing airline" needs a Refresher course in Airline Management!! :bored:

ads1963

2nd Feb 2009, 15:35

B747-800

8th Feb 2009, 22:46

a few ideas about zest air: http://www.pprune.org/4705413-post54.html

here is a very interesting video about the wreck right after the crash. engine 1 seems to be still running!
YouTube - Zestair MA60 crash (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6UobHh45ug)

aseanaero

15th Feb 2009, 12:37

Rumors are saying that a BAe146-200 was sold to the Middle East

There's a BAE146-200 parked at Pondok Cabe Airport in Jakarta.

It was flown there for maintenance and then put on hold , formerly G-MABR flybe sold to Asian Spirit.

ads1963

16th Feb 2009, 13:35

Funny story here:

Philippine Flight Simmers Group • View topic - zesr air caticlan blown tires ? (http://www.philskies.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11901)

Airbus RP-C8898 is now in operation as RP-C8988. I guess with all the 8s they got it all mixed up. Might be an indicator of the organization within the airline. Much has been said about this before.

ROTORSPOT - Complete Civil Rotorcraft Register of Philippines (http://www.geocities.com/rotorspot/rp.htm)

RP-C8898 Aerospatiale 350B-4 (Eurocopter 130B-4) 4309 F-WWPH,F-OKEE,RP-C8898

Who goofed up on this one?

B747-800

20th Feb 2009, 00:31

are here http://www.pprune.org/4732757-post59.html

buskoto

20th Feb 2009, 01:08

Quote:
RP-C8898 Aerospatiale 350B-4 (Eurocopter 130B-4) 4309 F-WWPH,F-OKEE,RP-C8898
Who goofed up on this one?

Err... the sign painters?:}

B747-800

23rd Feb 2009, 09:22

Err... the sign painters?

surely under the instruction of management lead by cpt. loudmouth. wasn't that aircraft ferried over to the philippines as rp-c8898

http://airlinersgallery.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/zestair-a320-200-rp-c8898-08grd-lgb-m2lr.jpg

so who made the mistake?

plane whisperer

23rd Feb 2009, 10:37

Hey I recognize that picture,I think this was taken at Hilo during its ferry back here.

Isnt the guy sitting on the right seat a handsome devil ;):}

JV126

23rd Feb 2009, 12:18

I heard that the original Zest Air crews who came from the BAe146s have not even started their IOEs. Even Capt. GM has not fully started on the airbus yet. The current pilots in the A320 are from PAL. :confused:............. one of the ex- BAe146 pilots has been doing ground instruction work in a flying school just to keep himself and his family afloat for the time being. I really feel sorry for them.:uhoh:

freezoneunite

23rd Feb 2009, 16:07

...... they do fly a320's don't they? cebu i think

ads1963

27th Feb 2009, 05:12

I piss in my pants and love my ass off!

BusinessWorld Online: Yao airline offers all-you-can-drink Zest-O juice (http://www.bworldonline.com/BW022609/content.php?id=043)

Yao airline offers all-you-can-drink Zest-O juice

DAVAO CITY — Zest Airways, Inc. intends to slug it out with the big boys in the airline industry by offering competitive rates and all the Zest-O juice you can drink in flight.
Zest Air will launch its maiden flight between Davao and Manila on March 1. Mark E. Hilario, Zest Air assistant vice-president for sales and marketing, told reporters the carrier was undeterred by the slowing economy and the price wars between bigger rivals Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.
"The challenge really is how we can create a travel need through good package and competitive rates. Our focus is to give them good service and [that includes] all-you-can-drink Zest-O products," he said. Zest Air is owned by juice magnate Alfredo M. Yao, who acquired Asian Spirit, Inc. in March last year.
Neil Jason P. Ampo, passenger sales executive, said all the fleets of Asian Spirit had been mothballed since Zest Air decided it was best to start fresh. According to its Web site, the company has a fleet of two Airbus 320s and five MA60 aircraft. "It’s very hard to create awareness in the market so we want to tie up with travel agencies and hotels for a good package for local and foreign passengers," he said.
Last week, Zest Air executives met with local travel agents and operators in this city to discuss package rates for the Manila-Davao routes, to be served by a 162-seater Airbus 320 and the smaller 56-seater Xian MA60 turbo prop airplane.
A promotional all-in rate of P1,698 will offered initially for the Manila-Davao route. But Mr. Ampo said the price would go up to P1,788 after the promotional period.
The airline will also offer flights to Caticlan, Busuanga, Calbayog, Catarman, Legaspi, Marinduque, Naga, Puerto Princesa, San Jose and Virac from Manila aside from its regular routes to Tagbilaran, Tacloban, Iloilo, Cebu, Kalibo and Davao.
Mr. Hilario said Zest Air would launch in May its Incheon, South Korea service — its first international flight, although it will be a chartered flight to accommodate Korean tourists and students coming here. Zest Air is also looking at Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China. "For now, we’re still testing the waters and we are not closing our doors to the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area)," he added.

The cans of Zest-o are made out of the MA60 alu from the crashed MA60.

The challenge really is how we can create a travel need through good package and competitive rates. Our focus is to give them good service and [that includes] all-you-can-drink Zest-O products," he said.

Neil Jason P. Ampo, passenger sales executive, said all the fleets of Asian Spirit had been mothballed since Zest Air decided it was best to start fresh.

Ops, MA60 mothballed.........didn't know that mothballed aircraft are crashing.......now I learned a new thing: Mothballed aircraft are crashing on landing! :ugh::ugh::ugh::D

Last week, Zest Air executives met with local travel agents and operators in this city to discuss package rates for the Manila-Davao routes, to be served by a 162-seater Airbus 320 and the smaller 56-seater Xian MA60 turbo prop airplane.

520 nm on a turbo prop with two hours plus flying time.................. at least they are being served Zesto-o Juice from cans made of Ma60 alu, great service!

ads1963

1st Mar 2009, 11:40

What's going on in the Philippines? An A320 operator trying to fly to Kuwait and Bahrain? How many stops? Does Zest Air even operates already a full domestic schedule or will they be using the MA60 also to go to these places? Long Trip!

BusinessWorld Online: Bahrain bags more flights to RP (http://www.bworldonline.com/BW022709/content.php?id=054)

Mr. Porciuncula said Zest Airways had informally expressed interest in mounting flights to Bahrain, though this could not be confirmed with airline executivves as of press time.

RP, Kuwait amend air agreements (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6257:rp-kuwait-amend-air-agreements&catid=23:topnews&Itemid=58)

The CAB official said Zest Airways, formerly Asian Spirit, is interested to mount flights to Kuwait. “I heard they want to, but they have yet to formally inform us that they are applying for rights.”

Somebody is kidding or is this serious?

jamestaylor

1st Mar 2009, 13:12

Sorry maybe these guy are really a joke. A 162 seater A320 may go 5 hours max without refueling max that is without 30KG per pax. Bahrain is what 9 hours at least so who will give them 5th freedom rights to get there - answer is NO ONE. Also without this you do a tech stop and charge the pax's how much for this flight??? 1K USD when Emirates will have over 660 total pax's on its new A380 come on does anyone really believe they can compete?????????????????

God bless the Juice man......................... :O

ecureilx

2nd Mar 2009, 05:33

There was one asian LCC which flew 6 hour segments, which essentially were 4.5 hour segments stretched by an hour as their engineering could not meet ETOPS requirements, and they had to hug the coastline of some countries on the way, instead of deep into the ocean, and be weight restricted on top of everything.

Well, that LCC didnt last, the service, and now the same LCC is finding ways on getting a A340-300, to overcome the ETOPS issues, so they can fly the longer sectors non-stop.

Who wants to fly the same segment with an additional hour plus compared to regular carriers, for a not-so attractive price ?

If I am not mistaken, the A320's of Zest are in full economy, and may be able to stretch to 6 hours with a bit of weight restriction, and do technical stops on the way ..

So, In Theory - MNL - Kuwait / Bahrain is - quite possible. Dont strike out the possibility.

The question will be if passengers will want to sweat it in a narrow body LCC config aircraft ..

B747-800

10th Mar 2009, 03:48

my thoughts are here: http://www.pprune.org/4777833-post66.html

basic

14th Mar 2009, 19:01

OH my! Thingking of flying International?! LOL!

Its only one airbus flying and the other one is sitting duck with tents all over the place, a replacement if one airbus goes offline. they cant even fill up the seats of the a320.

Dreaming High? Start fixing your people especially stunt CPT. pilots of caticlan first as if they think they are the best.

btw, Kudos To the new MA60 Chief Pilot.

ads1963

25th Mar 2009, 08:41

The lousy service of Zest Airways continues on. They never refund people!

Zest Air Plane Broke down ———- Tod … My Blog For DIY Coron (http://diycoronblog.wordpress.com/2009/03/15/zest-air-plane-broke-down-tod/)

Tags: Busuanga Airplane, News
Zest Air Plane Broke down ———- Today, or earlier this morning, at the Busuanga Airport, the Zest Air Plane broke down. It just cant start. That’s according to the hearsay at the airport. Although it’s hearsay, it really happened. I was at the Busuanga airport today this 12nn.

Too bad for those Zest Air passengers. That is the main reason I DO NOT RECOMMEND Zest Air as your airline to take. I am not really against Zest Air. Why not improve their operations and system. Do not tourist trap us by offering very cheap fare. It is really too good to be true.

I have a refund from Zest Air last October 2008, and until now March 2009 they haven’t paid me back. Forget the promise of Gift Certificate, just give my money back because I refunded that.

So Zest Air passengers or victims, ride at your own risk.

I will just take precautionary measure for joiners of mine who are Zest Air passengers, just to make sure the Joining Group won’t be affected.

maybe they make better softdrinks than an airline.

And how cheap is their operation?

http://kegler747.*************/2009/02/zest-air.html

I initially thought that their first Airbus A320 aircraft is brand new but I was wrong the very second I entered the aircraft just because of the smell... Yes, I know how a brand new airplane smells like. It didn't smell like a brand new airplane at all. Aside from that, the seats are not new as there is a cover on the back of the seat where a personal entertainment system of its previous owner might be placed. Then I saw the passenger safety information card, if you look closely on the picture below there is just a sticker of Zest Air covering the words JetBlue. I therefore conclude at that time that U.S.-based JetBlue Airways is the original owner of the aircraft. A funny thing is that it contains a Spanish translation targeted for the Hispanic passengers of JetBlue. I hope by now Zest Air replaced those safety cards as I think it is not that costly for an airline to print those cards so it can display their official company colors rather than the design which is only intended for JetBlue. If they want they can put a Filipino translation to replace the Spanish translation as it is more practical for a Philippines-based airline.

http://2.bp.*************/_YOwVHbpaWI8/SZqOmMPp1tI/AAAAAAAABTk/39slXVHODsY/s400/zest+air+3.jpg

http://1.bp.*************/_YOwVHbpaWI8/SZqQXx3h0FI/AAAAAAAABT8/LkYKB6mwvSg/s400/zest+air+4.jpg

The flight ended in a smooth landing at Mactan-Cebu International Airport. When it is time to deplane I was dumbfounded to know that we need to walk all the way to the terminal as Zest Air does not use the aerobridges which Mactan Airport obviously have unlike its terminal in Manila. I don't know why, maybe because the other gates with an aerobridge are reserved for other airlines or Zest Air just does not want to pay extra to access an aerobridge. Oh well, the weather is good at that time and I need a little exercise anyway.

On the flight back to Manila it is such an inconvenience to passengers when only 1 check-in counter is open to accommodate all of us passengers. I'm still on queue 30 mins. before the official departure time and I found out that the flight is only half-full. It didn't stop there as the flight was delayed for 2 hours and they only announced it way past our scheduled departure time.

And some more:

PinoyExchange - View Single Post - ZestAir:Asia's most refreshing airline (http://pinoyexchange.com/forums/showpost.php?p=34043755&postcount=116)

Zest Air Sucks BIG TIME!

We are booked for Batanes on the 17th - 22nd of April, 2009. We are very much looking forward about it until I learned here in PEX that all flights going to Basco are cancelled.

The thing about Zest Air is that they do not have the DECENCY to inform their clients that they cancelled/changed their flight schedule. I called one of their branches and the lady told me that our flight is indeed cancelled. She gave us two options:

(1) First is to refund our money (if transaction is done through credit card, you'll get your money thru credit card)

(2) Wait in vain. Wait for something indefinitely. If one will choose this, you are going to compromise your entire summer vacation!

The lady told me that they cancelled their flights to Basco due to the "erratic weather" there. She added that it is the same reason for their Masbate flights. Maybe they think it is the best reason that they can give to their customers.

Last night I realized something. What if I booked my aging Lolo and Lola on the said dates and the same eventuality happened. My grandparents do not know anything about the internet nor PEX. What if this flight cancelling thing did not reach our awareness? Wouldn't it be a big disaster for them when they found out about it at the entrance gate of the Domestic Airport on the very early morning of April 17? Que horor!

These Administrators of Zest Air really need to learn the true meaning of decency and professionalism! Your system is very much automated so I see no reason why they cannot inform your clients via e-mail. Alternatively, I think they have the enough manpower to call those clients who are not that computer literate.

Their clients deserve decency! They need to reflect on their values.

In the end, our anticipation turns to frustration.

http://dyoobshvili.*************/2009/02/spiritless.html

spiritless (http://dyoobshvili.*************/2009/02/spiritless.html)

in september 19 last year, all in a sheer joy of traveling to this must-see and experience place, we booked an asian spirit flight to batanes. since airfare to batanes could easily shoot up to almost PHP 12,000, we grabbed the opportunity to strike the cheapest possible fare that we could. and we did. we even went to their ticketing office in legaspi street, so that mylene could swipe her way to our printed tickets. the crew there said that we should keep these tickets safe, for without it, we might not get to our flight. apparently, they won't print out another set if we lost ours.

then the biggest news so far. last week we got a downright disappointing news that our batanes trip won't push through anymore. the new management (juicemaker zest-o took over last year, hence the new name, zest airways) has terminated their flights to basco, along with other destinations, mostly northern and southern. it's now less than a month before the flight and zest air has not even bothered to inform us about the cancellation of the flight. the only reason behind the cancellation was that the airline was supposedly beefing up their aircrafts, while cathy was told that strong winds prevent any of their flights from landing in basco airport. crap.

most of us have already filed for leave during those days, so scheduling another one will be tougher. aside from the fact that we won't get our cash anymore if we decide to get a refund (which means that those credits will be spent even if i don't like to), the major frustration lies in missing the whole trip altogether since our minds are already set in seeing batanes' marlboro country, ivatan houses, among others. to make things worse, zest air will not be shouldering the additional cost if we decide to get to another airline that goes to batanes on that same date. buwisit! as of now, the website says that resumption of flights will be announced soon. but how soon is this? grrrrr!

spiritless - that's what this airline is. and now, they're saying that zest air is asia's most refreshing airline… i don't think so. refreshingly crap maybe.