Automation improves Zest Air cargo services

MANILA, Philippines - The president and chief executive officer of Asia’s most refreshing airline said automation has enabled them to offer better and faster cargo services.

Ambassador Alfredo M. Yao said Zest Air was able to ship approximately 15.2 million kgs. in terms of cargo volume last year because of more efficient cargo services.

“Processing of airway bills is now faster and transaction time has been greatly reduced since we automated our cargo system,” said Yao.

The ambassador said cargo is shipped out on a first-come first served basis. No additional premium is levied on cargo that is airlifted on the first flight unlike in other carriers where rates are higher for the earliest flight.

Dody Ramirez, senior vice president for cargo and logistics, said it is also more convenient for customers to monitor their shipments because they can easily check its status and whereabouts online, “Zest Air is the only domestic carrier that offers this convenience at the moment. With others, you have to go through a forwarder to check on your cargo.”

Ramirez said that Zest Air may be at par with other airlines when it comes to the type of aircraft and the space provided but that Zest Air definitely exceeds them in service and competitive rates. “Most of our regular shippers used other carriers before but said they shifted to us when they found our rates more competitive and our services more attuned to their needs.”

Zest Air has a current fleet of 8 Airbus A320 aircraft, 1 A319, and 3 MA60s. The cargo space is 37.4 cu. meters for both A320 and A319, and 9.5 cu. meters for the MA60.

This strength in cargo services was put in good use recently when the company was credited for airlifting a total of 36 tons of relief goods for Sendong flood victims in Cagayan de Oro.

The 36 tons comprised mostly of food, water, clothing, medicines, and other relief goods which were coordinated thru marketing vice president Levy Ng and Cargo logistics manager Jasmin Santos.

Zest Air’s cargo office along Domestic Road corner Andrews Ave. in Pasay City accepted donations and goods from legitimate groups and organizations to be shipped for free to CDO and other affected areas. Other companies under Yao’s AMY Holdings such as his pharmaceutical arm Pharmarex, Inc. also actively donated relief goods to the victims of Sendong alongside with various organizations, charitable institutions and anonymous individuals. 

Aside from Cagayan de Oro, Zest Air flies to 18 other domestic destinations such as Boracay via Kalibo, Bacolod, Busuanga, Calbayog, Catarman, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Manila, Marinduque, Puerto Princesa, San Jose Mindoro, Tablas, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Virac.

Zest Air also flies to International destinations such as Incheon, and Pusan Korea, from Kalibo and Manila, Shanghai and Beijing, China and Taipei, Taiwan from Kalibo and more international flights to come.

To know more about Zest Air Cargo Services, you may call Jasmin Santos at (632) 851-1803 or log on to www.zestair.com.ph.