From Kalibo to Korea via Zest Air

MANILA, Philippines - After a successful Clark-Hong Kong flight, Zest Air launched its Kalibo-Incheon, Korea flight on Dec. 4. Manila-Kalibo flights are also available to connect to the Kalibo-Incheon route.

Zest Air will be utilizing its brand-new 162- and168-seater Airbus 320 (A320). Among the privileges of this new route are: affordable introductory fares, baggage allowance of 20 kilos per person and free in-flight meals and refreshments.

According to Ambassador Alfredo M. Yao, Zest Air’s president and chief executive officer, “the opening of the Incheon, Korea route, just like the Hong Kong route, is part of the airline’s expansion program to Southeast Asian regions. After these new routes, Zest Air is expected to boost its market dominance by planning to fly to Shanghai, Japan and Singapore.”

Flight schedules are as follows:

• Kalibo-Incheon: Dec. 4 to Dec. 19. Expected time of departure, 1 a.m.; expected time of arrival, 6:30 a.m., Mondays and Fridays.

• Incheon-Kalibo: Dec. 4 to Dec. 19. Expected time of departure, 8:25 a.m.; expected time of arrival, 11:55 a.m.

• Kalibo-Incheon: Dec. 20z onwards. ETD, 1 a.m.; ETA, 6:30 a.m., Mondays, Thursday, Friday, Sunday.

• Incheon-Kalibo: Dec. 20 onwards. ETD, 8:25 a.m.; ETA, 11:55 a.m., Monday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday.

Incheon is officially known as the Incheon Metropolitan City. It is South Korea’s third largest metropolis after Seoul and Busan. It is the largest seaport on the west coast (its location on an estuary makes it a good harbor) and home of the country’s largest airport, Incheon International Airport. It is also South Korea’s most important transport hub.

In the 21st century, Incheon has become a global business hub centered around the high-tech and futuristic New Songdo City which is home to South Korea’s tallest building — the Northeast Asia Trade Tower.

Incheon is now home to over 2.5 million people and under the control of one of the two free economic zone authorities in Korea, with an aim to attract foreign investments and turn itself into a financial and corporate hub along with the Busan-Jinhae Free Economic zone Authority.

Incheon is regarded as part of the greater Seoul metropolitan area due to the fact that it is bordering the capital and that the Seoul Metropolitan Subway and the Incheon Subway systems are linked. Incheon is, however, a major city in its own right and is a separate jurisdiction from Seoul.

Korea is home to many UNESCO World Heritage Sites because of its many fortresses, temples and palaces surrounding this peninsula. Key tourist attractions are Gangwa Island, Yeongjong Island, Jayu (Freedom) Park, Wolmido and Bupyeong Station. Incheon has also won the bid to host the Asian Games in 2014.

On Feb. 27, 2007, Incheon declared itself an “English City” and inaugurated the “Incheon Free English Zone” program. The goal of the program is to make Incheon as much an English-speaking city as Hong Kong and Singapore are. The ultimate purpose is to establish Incheon as a commercial and business hub of Northeast Asia. The official slogan of the program is “Smile with English.”

Zest Air flies to 20 destinations to and from Manila and Cebu hub. These include Boracay via Kalibo, Bacolod, Busuanga, Calbayog, Catarman, Clark, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legaspi, Manila, Marinduque, Naga, Puerto Princesa, San Jose, Mindoro, Tablas, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Virac and Zamboanga. Zest Air also started flying from Clark to Hong Kong and Zamboanga to Sandakan, Malaysia last October, 2009.

Bookings or flight information may be coursed through the Reservation Hotline of Zest Air at 855-3333 or visit www.zestair.com.ph for more updates.