Tuesday 22 October 2013

AirAsia shifts operations to new International terminal in Chennai

http://newindianexpress.com/business/news/AirAsia-shifts-operations-to-new-International-terminal-in-Chennai/2013/10/22/article1848051.ece

ByENS Economic Bureau - BANGALORE
Published: 22nd October 2013 07:27 AM
Last Updated: 22nd October 2013 07:27 AM
 
Malaysian-based International carrier, AirAsia has shifted its operations to the New International Terminal, Chennai (NITC) Airport from its earlier location in Anna International Terminal from Monday.

The carrier is slated to start operations in India by December 2013. The company entered into a partnership with Indian business house, Tata and Telstra Tradeplace in a 49:30:21 share respectively.
The company said that all flight departures from Chennai will be based and operated at the NITC but arrivals will continue to be at the old terminal.

The new proposed carrier received a No Objection Certificate from the Ministry of Civil Aviation in September this year. Earlier, the company said that they will begin the process of obtaining an Air Operating Permit and prepare to kick-start its operations. However, operations in their new location could become slightly more expensive as they move to the `2,000 crore new terminal, which has the capacity to handle over 4 million passengers annually.

According to AirAsia chief, Tony Fernandes, the company will initially invest $50 million and have three aircraft and over 200 people for their operations here.

Monday 21 October 2013

AirAsia Zest launches flights to Miri, Malaysia to service OFWs

http://business.inquirer.net/148595/airasia-zest-launches-flights-to-miri-malaysia-to-service-ofws

AirAsia Zest launches flights to Miri, Malaysia to service OFWs

By


AirAsia Zest, the domestic unit of Malaysia’s AirAsia Berhad, is launching its Manila to Miri, Malaysia route as it seeks to widen its presence abroad, a statement on Monday showed.

The airline, which would be the first to fly from Manila to Miri, famous for its rainforests and limestone formations, said the promo fare will start at P460, one way.

“AirAsia Zest is pleased to announce that we are the first and only airline servicing Manila to Miri route, giving our passengers and OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) access to this majestic city,” AirAsia Zest executive vice president and chief operating officer Joy Caneba said.

Guests who will avail themselves of this promo will be able to travel from Dec. 7, 2013 to April 14, 2014, the statement showed.

“AirAsia Zest’s brand of air travel is characterized by efficiency and good service and we are all geared up to welcome our guest to this new route on Dec. 7, when we commence operations,” Caneba said.

AirAsia Zest flights from Manila to Kota Kinabalu will also increase in frequency from 4 times to 14 times weekly effective Dec. 1, according to Caneba.

The newly rebranded airline has also announced that it will launch new flights from Cebu’s Mactan International Airport to Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 1 and to domestic destinations of Puerto Princesa (Palawan), Davao and Cagayan de Oro on Nov. 15.

Miri is the second largest city in the Malaysian state of Sarawak in Borneo. The discovery of oil 100 years ago transformed Miri from a quiet fishing village into a wealthy city.

ZestAir was recently been rebranded as AirAsia Zest to reflect its partnership with AirAsia, the largest low-cost carrier in the region.

AirAsia Zest, meanwhile, operates a fleet of 13 aircraft and services nine domestic and four international routes from Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The move came as Air Asia Philippines, an affiliate of AirAsia Zest, suspended its flights out of Clark International Airport to support the operations of AirAsia Zest.

Air Asia Philippines CEO Marianne Hontiveros said flights from Clark to Hong Kong would temporarily resume for the Christmas holidays.

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Friday 11 October 2013

AirAsia Zest to offer more flights from Cebu

AirAsia Zest to offer more flights from Cebu

Posted at 10/11/2013 5:26 PM | Updated as of 10/11/2013 6:17 PM
 
MANILA – AirAsia Zest, the rebranded airline of sister firms AirAsia Inc. Philippines and Zest Airways Inc., announced on Friday that it will be offering more flights from Cebu.
Joy Caneba, now COO and EVP of AirAsia Zest, said tickets to Puerto Princesa, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro will go on sale starting Monday, October 14.
AirAsia Zest will fly to Davao and Cagayan de Oro daily while flights to Puerto Princesa will be offered four times a week.
“For as low as P533 all-in fare, you can go to those destinations from Cebu,” Caneba said in a press briefing in Makati.
Travel dates for the introductory promo rate will be from November 15, 2013 to April 14, 2014.
Caneba also announced that AirAsia Zest will be launching daily flights to Kuala Lumpur from Cebu starting December 1.
“When you go to Kuala Lumpur, you can have a fly-through to other AirAsia destinations so you have access now to Australia, China, India and other destinations," said Caneba.
She added that the goal of the airline is to “dominate key hubs” in the Philippines and expand its reach to other Asian destinations.
AirAsia Zest is also planning to add another Airbus A320 to its fleet by the end of the year, increasing its fleet to 14.
Currently, AirAsia Zest flies to nine regional destinations and four international destinations-- Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Incheon, and Shanghai.
AirAsia Zest will announce more regional routes from Manila on October 21, which will also mark the formal launching of the rebranded airline.
Rebranding
Caneba admitted that the firm is still recovering from the losses incurred in the grounding of Zest Air flights in August 16, saying the incident is a “chip on the shoulder” of the low cost carrier.
“The strategic plan of Air Asia is to end the year in a positive note…We want to prove that we still have the support of the public and with this rebranding, it will turn things around for us,” she said.
Caneba believes that the AirAsia brand will help increase passenger traffic and restore confidence in the airline.
“With the AirAsia name on board, we feel that we will be able to offer better service and convenience to the passengers. There will be a lot more services and products that will be rolled out in a couple of months and years to come,” she said.
More equity
Caneba said AirAsia Philippines is planning to increase its stake in Zest Airways Inc., but the move needs to be approved by both houses of Congress.
She said the airline has informed the Committee on Franchise of the House of Representatives and submitted its corporate documents to signify its intention.

“A franchise is also a law and there is a certain process that we have to go through in both houses. The basic requirement is the intention to acquire more equity and the transfer of controlling interest. You have to inform Congress who will be acquiring and who will be transferring,” she said.

AirAsia acquired an 85% economic interest and 49% voting rights in ZestAir, as well as a 100% interest in Asiawide Airways Inc.
ZestAir, in exchange, received $16 million and a 13 percent interest in AirAsia Philippines.

AirAsia is now eyeing to increase its 49 percent stake in ZestAir to a controlling stake of at least 51 percent.
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AirAsia moves to take control of Zest

AIRASIA Inc., operator of low-cost carrier AirAsia Philippines, has submitted to the House of Representatives a letter of intention to increase its stake in Zest Airways, Inc., a senior official of the Yao-led airline said Friday.

"We have already submitted our letter of intention to the Committee of Franchise of Congress," Zest Air Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Joy D. Caneba said in a press briefing in Makati City.

AirAsia Philippines needs congressional approval acquire more equity for a bigger stake in Zest Air, which has been rebranded as AirAsia Zest to reflect AirAsia’s investment.

"Hopefully we get it by the end of the year," Ms. Caneba said.

Currently, AirAsia Inc. has a 49% stake in Zest Air. The remaining 51% is held by former ambassador Alfredo M. Yao.

Ms. Caneba said the letter to Congress does not state how much more AirAsia plans to take in Zest Air, but admitted: "The intention is at least 51% and more".

"The basic requirements are the intention to acquire more equity, to transfer the controlling interest. Number two is you have to inform Congress who would be acquiring and who would be transferring (shares)."

NEW ROUTE
AirAsia Zest has also launched new routes from Cebu: Cebu-Puerto Princesa (four times a week), Cebu-Cagayan de Oro (daily), Cebu-Davao (daily), and Cebu-Kuala Lumpur (daily).

Flights along the new routes will start on Nov. 15.

AirAsia Zest currently flies to Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Cebu, Davao, Tagbilaran, and Cagayan de Oro from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 4.

"What’s good with the Cebu-Kuala Lumpur (route) is when you go to Kuala Lumpur you can fly to other AirAsia destinations so you have access to Australia, China, and other 85 destinations of AirAsia," Ms. Caneba said. -- L. C. S. Marasigan
 

AirAsia Zest to lease new planes by 2015

By


Budget airline AirAsia Zest, which was recently renamed from Zest Airways, is aiming to grow its fleet by 50 percent in two years as it seeks to tap new destinations in the country and overseas, an official said on Friday.
AirAsia Zest director Joy Caneba said in an interview that discussions were being held to acquire via lease deals as many as seven mid-range Airbus A320s through 2015, to end that period with 21 planes.
The expansions comes amid commitments of support from the AirAsia Group of Malaysian tycoon Tony Fernandes, which earlier said it would infuse about $100 million into the budget carrier established by juice magnate Alfredo Yao in 2008.
The move would also increase Air Asia Zest’s market share, currently at about 10 percent of domestic flights, with the lion’s share going to Cebu Pacific, PAL Express and Philippine Airlines.
A longer-term plan, beyond five years, could involve mounting flights to long-haul destinations in Europe or the United States, Caneba said.
“With the rebranding, we have been aligning the business,” Caneba said
More planes will allow the airline to serve new routes in North Asia like Japan and South Korea, as well as parts of China, she said. For domestic flights, the carrier was set to announce three new routes out of Cebu, namely, Davao, Puerto Princesa and Cagayan de Oro.
Prior to rebranding, AirAsia came into Zest Air as a minority investor, given the latter’s attractive slots at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport. AirAsia’s own Philippine unit said it would temporarily stop flights out of Clark International Airport to allow the group to focus on Manila