IN A surprise announcement last week, Philippines AirAsia said it would suspend all domestic and international operations from Clark from October 9, in order to devote attention to Zest Air’s ongoing rebranding.
A statement from the LCC said that while all routes would be suspended, Clark-Hong Kong services will run between December 20, 2013 and January 6, 2014 to meet holiday demand.
AirAsia also plans to move part of its operations to Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 4, according to AirAsia Group CEO, Tony Fernandes, who wrote about it on Twitter.
Marianne Hontiveros, CEO, Philippines AirAsia, said the carrier is currently reviewing route and fleet plans following its voluntary suspension of service.
“Right now we need to focus our resources to support Zest Air, where we have significant economic interest, and we believe in Zest Air’s potential with its Manila-based operations,” she said in the press statement.
Zest Air, which AirAsia owns a 49 per cent stake in, was suspended for four days by aviation authorities last August 16 on a series of safety and maintenance violations (TTG Asia e-Daily, August 22, 2013).
For the duration of the grounding, AirAsia will lease Zest Air one of its two aircraft, while the other is already on wet lease to Zest Air.
Meanwhile, an AirAsia executive said that Zest Air’s rebranding and charters from South Korea to Cebu and Kalibo would remain unaffected.
Rebranding would be pushed through within the next two weeks or so, pending regulatory clearance from the Philippines’ aviation authorities. Once the name change is approved, AirAsia will proceed with gradual changes in Zest Air’s livery, the executive noted.
Clark International Airport’s president and CEO Victor Luciano expressed continued support for the carrier, saying: “(AirAsia’s cessation of operations) is a very temporary thing. We are confident in their plans for Clark and the return of flights from AirAsia.”
Affected domestic and international travellers have the option of booking an earlier flight, placing the value of their ticket into a 180-day credit shell or getting a full refund.
Domestic ticket holders have the additional option of acquiring a same-destination flight on Zest Air instead, which will fly out of Manila.
