AirAsia Zest Launches Inaugural Flight From Cebu to Kuala Lumpur

AirAsia Zest has launched its first international flight from Mactan Cebu International Airport to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, one of the many routes that it said it plans to open in the province

At 6am on Sunday, Flight Z2 187, operated by an all-Filipino crew, left Mactan Cebu International Airport and arrived ahead of schedule at Kuala Lumpur’s Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) carrying over 100 guests.

A traditional water-dousing ceremony welcomed AirAsia Zest return flight from Kuala Lumpur when its Airbus A320 touched down at Mactan Cebu airport at 2:50pm.

“Today’s inaugural flight is only the first among the many new routes that AirAsia Zest will launch in Cebu,” Joy Caneba, executive vice president and chief operating officer of AirAsia Zest, said in a statement Sunday.

“Our commitment in partnering with AirAsia, the world’s best low cost carrier, is to build a truly great value airline that will serve the needs of the Filipino travellers and invigorate the tourism industry in the country,” he said.

The new flight from Cebu to Kuala Lumpur compliments AirAsia Zest’s twice daily flights currently operating out of Manila’s NAIA Terminal 4 to Malaysia.

“Our Cebu to KL flight provides yet another link for Filipinos and Malaysians in the areas of trade and commerce but more importantly, we hope to draw tourists from Malaysia to our amazing beaches and natural wonders in Cebu, Puerto Princesa, Davao, Cagayan de Oro amongst others,” said Caneba.

“If we are able to draw even a fraction of Malaysia’s 25 million annual tourists, it will have a significant impact on our tourist arrival record, which translates to more jobs, more food on the table, more opportunities for every Filipino.”

Saying its staying true to its commitment “to give more choices, better value and enhanced service,” AirAsia also announced that it will add two new international routes from Cebu starting next month.

“Starting December 19, we will start servicing Cebu to Kota Kinabalu and by mid-December we will fly to Incheon, South Korea,” Caneba said.

To celebrate the new routes, AirAsia Zest is offering P8 base fare only promo for all domestic and select international flights from its hub in Cebu and Manila. Promo seats from as low as P545 one way are available for booking now at www.airasia.com. Guests who will avail of this promo will be able to fly from 1 June to 30 September 2014.

“In partnership with AirAsia, we offer passengers super affordable fares and the strength of our combined network between Korea and the Philippines that extends across 87 destinations in Asia including China, India and Australia,” Caneba further said. (INQUIRER.net)