Kapal Karam

Over 100 Malaysians are amongst hundreds of passengers stranded iin Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila when Zest Air was grounded. The Phillipines civil aviation authority suspended all Zet Air air operations.

18 August 2013| last updated at 02:19PM

Zest Air passengers grounded in Manila

By ROY GOH | news@nst.com.my

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SAFETY VIOLATIONS: Hundreds stranded at Ninoy Aquino airport after suspension of airline

MANILA:THE suspension of Zest Air, the Philippines’ unit of Malaysian brand carrier Air- Asia, left many passengers stranded at  Ninoy Aquino International Airport here yesterday.

Hundreds were seen lining up at its ticketing office outside Terminal 4 where the airline runs its nine domestic routes as well as two international destinations to Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu.

Zest Air also flies to Incheon in Korea and Shanghai and Jinjiang in China via Terminal 3. It has a fleet of 10 Airbus A320 and one A319.

Passenger Gabriel Manuel, who had booked a morning flight to Cebu in central Philippines, said he came early to the airport but was informed by security officials to go to the ticketing office.

“I am still waiting for answers. But from what I have heard and read in the newspapers, the airline has been suspended because of safety violations,” said the 38-year-old businessman.

Another stranded passenger Tim Lorenzo said airline staff had told them they would be booked into other flights, but had yet to get any confirmation or information from the carrier.

“I was asked to show my ticket and told to wait for their call.

“That’s it,” said the machine operator, who was also on his way to Cebu.

Zest Air ground employees were also unable to tell passengers when the next available flights had been scheduled but pointed out that stranded passengers would be given food vouchers and accommodation if necessary.

Other domestic destinations that the airline operated are Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Iloilo, Kalibo, Puerta Princesa, Tacloban and Tagbilaran.

The airline was grounded since Friday from 6.15pm after it received orders from the Philippines’ Civil Aviation Authority for various aviation safety violations.

Following the suspension, aircraft bound here were allowed to return but subsequently grounded.

It was estimated some 7,200 passengers, who were booked in 80 flights, would be affected by the suspension, including 1,429 in 14 flights on Friday night.

Meanwhile, in an immediate response, Zest Air director Joy Caneba said the airline’s priority was in providing those affected by the suspension with accommodation.

“Zest Air is also offering passengers the option of getting a full refund or being re-booked onto other airlines.” Additional reporting by Carisma Kapoor

Stranded passengers waiting for Zest Air officials to respond to their queries at the airline’s ticketing booth outside Terminal 4 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila yesterday.

Read more: Zest Air passengers grounded in Manila – General – New Straits Timeshttp://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/zest-air-passengers-grounded-in-manila-1.339664#ixzz2cJwqbPK6

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This afternoon, Air Asia announced that “2 flights have been despatched to ‘rescue’ Zest Air Malaysia bound passengers”

18 August 2013| last updated at 02:27PM

Air Asia despatches 2 flights to rescue Malaysia bound Zest Airways passengers

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MANILA (Philippines): Air Asia dispatched two flights to rescue over 100 stranded Malaysia bound passengers of troubled budget carrier Zest Airways here today.

Yesterday, the suspension of Zest Air, the Philippines’ unit of Malaysian brand carrier Air Asia, left many passengers stranded at  Ninoy Aquino International Airport here.

Hundreds were seen lining up at its ticketing office outside Terminal 4 where the airline runs its nine domestic routes as well as two international destinations to Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu.

Read more: Air Asia despatches 2 flights to rescue Malaysia bound Zest Airways passengers – Latest – New Straits Timeshttp://www.nst.com.my/latest/air-asia-despatches-2-flights-to-rescue-malaysia-bound-zest-airways-passengers-1.339824#ixzz2cJy8Lgno

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The fact is that the decision to send Air Asia aircrafts and fly the Zest Air stranded Malaysia bound passengers from Ninoy Aquino Terminal 4 shouldn’t be viewed as ‘rescue’. Air Asia is mere completing its obligation as a partner of Zest Air.

It is expected of Air Asia to uphold its corporate responsibility as a partner in Zest Air, to ensure that the contractual obligation of ferrying passengers and goods to the scheduled destination is being fulfilled.

This is not the first time Air Asia “Being reprimanded for safety issues”. On 26 September 2012, Air Asia lost its Airline Operation Certificate and DCA had to issue a six month interim AOCbecause of obsolete and compliance of flight operations manual.

What is interesting is that The Star, which has been the mouth piece and leading ‘cheer leader’ in Tony Fernandes’s usual trumped-up campaign for trampling others which include manipulation of half-truths, is unusually silent about reporting on the grounded air operations of Zest Air and affecting up to 7,200 stranded passengers.

It most apparent when Air Asia passengers Izan Suhaila Mohd. Ali and her infant daughter Maryam Sophea were bumped off in Ho Chi Minh for suspicion of ‘chicken pox’ and Air Asia failed to assist them. Even on humanitarian grounds.

It is a demonstration of the both corporations attitude and practice of transparency. Then again, Fernandes sits on the BoD of both listed companies. - bigdogdotcom