Zest Airways launches its fourth international route from Manila

Zest Airways inaugurated services on the 2,500-kilometre route across the South China Sea from Manila (MNL) in the Philippines to the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur (KUL), on 22 October. Four weekly flights are offered between the two capitals; all will be operated using the airline’s fleet of 180-seat A320s. Competition in the market is significant, as the route is already operated by Malaysia Airlines three times a day, Cebu Pacific twice daily, and Airphil Express three times a week. Zest Airways, which was originally launched as the Philippines’ first airline run by a cooperative under the name of Asian Spirit in 1996, already operates three other international services from Manila; to Seoul Incheon in South Korea, as well as to Shanghai Pudong and Jinjang in China.