Over 100 Malaysians are amongst hundreds of passengers stranded at Terminal 4 Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila when Zest Air was grounded. The Philippines civil aviation authority suspended all Zest Air air operations.
18 August 2013| last updated at 02:19PMZest Air passengers grounded in Manila
By ROY GOH | news@nst.com.my
29 3 Google +0 0 0 commentsSAFETY 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
*************
The grounding of Zest Air air operations is actually very serious. According to Phillipine Star report on the story:
ZestAir’s non-conformance to PCAR and deficiencies affecting its flight operations included the absence of a qualified account manager, failure to check aircraft logs, flight manifests, weather, among others.
Canebo said that none of the airline’s 24 pilots are exceeding the flight time limit of 100 hours a month per pilot amid the findings of CAAP inspectors that the airline has been violating the flight time limit for pilots since January last year.
She added that Yao, president and chief executive officer of ZestAir since 2008, is acting as the airline’s account manager.
On the issue of the missing fuel cap, Canebo said the item is not in the minimum equipment list required under aviation regulations.
************
Safety issues isn’t something entirely foreign, with Air Asia. Malaysians know all too well a few of Air Asia’s runway mishaps, which inevitably disrupted other airlines’ operations too.
One of the few Air Asia runaway mishaps
This afternoon, Air Asia announced that “2 flights have been despatched to ‘rescue’ Zest Air Malaysia bound passengers”:
18 August 2013| last updated at 02:27PMAir Asia despatches 2 flights to rescue Malaysia bound Zest Airways passengers
1 6 Google +0 0 0 commentsMANILA (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
***************
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 AOC because of obsolete and compliance of flight operations manual.
‘Airport Spring’: Fernandes’s morbid attempt for passengers ‘uprising’ against MAHB, which ad The Star carried in full page colour
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 is 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.
The Star only carried Bernama piece about Malaysia Airlines stepping up to assist and bring the two Malaysian passengers back home.
It is a demonstration of the both corporations attitude and practice of transparency. Then again, Fernandes sits on the BoD of both listed companies. The Star was very supportive in Fernandes’s campaign to get Air Asia passengers and consumers to revolt against Malaysia Airports in the November 2011 ‘Airport Spring’
Tony Fernandes and Idris Jala
This is also the man who shared the stage with PEMANDU CEO with ministerial status and former Malaysia Airlines CEO Idris Jala recently at PEMANDU Global Series Talk. Fernandes convincingly and arrogantly claim that;
“If somebody (in a company) screws up, we change them immediately,” he said.
“We got to have people that can adapt to change. Malaysians don’t like change,” he reiterated.
and
Fernandes said the country “needs to be honest with itself” and acknowledge constructive criticisms, especially on a global level.
“We should embrace change and we need to be honest with ourselves; and where are we in the global league in transparency and accountability,” he said.
**********
It is glaringly obvious that Fernandes is not entirely honest about himself and how he does things. This include “Screwing up”. Probably he should get his act and his house in the right order first, before making another arrogant statement or call.
This include the failed acquisition of Batavia Air, failed joint venture with All Nippon Airways on Air Asia Japan and the delay in Air Asia Indonesia IPO. It is utter shame to self-proven otherwise now, wouldn’t it?
The "thirteen million plus Ringgit" guy rambles.... 
MANILA, Philippines—The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has grounded budget carrier Zest Air due to a series of safety breaches, including refueling with passengers onboard.
“In the course of monitoring, this agency is alarmed of Zest Air’s series of serious deviations and infractions of the rules and standards prescribed under the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations,” the suspension order issued by Captain John Andrews, CAAP deputy director general.
In the order addressed to Alfredo M. Yao, chairman of Zest Airways, Inc., Andrews said the decision to suspend the airline’s operations was based on the monitoring and surveillance conducted by a team of airworthiness inspectors formed by CAAP on July 31.
He said the report submitted by the inspectors showed continuing violations of Zest Air on air safety standards.
Among the violations found by CAAP were:
◾No qualified Accountable Manager since July 19, 2013
◾Failure to check aircraft logs, flight manifest, weather, etc.
◾Failure to present to the CAAP the airman license (Aircraft Mechanic License) during ramp inspection
◾Series of occurrences that affected several flight operations
◾Refueling with passenger on board involving RP-C8989 on August 14, 2013
◾Excessive flight duty time case under the enforcement and legal service
Andrews underscored the need for an accountable manager, who he said has “corporate authority for ensuring that all flight operations and maintenance activities can be financed and carried out to the highest degree of safety standards required by the authority.”
Zest Air’s certificate to operate will remain suspended until the necessary corrective actions and compliance with aviation safety standards have been undertaken, he said.
– The Inquirer
………………………………………………………………………………………….
Did AirAsia conduct a through due diligence before they decide to partner with this airlines? Or is it all about cost and profit? I mean some of those violation are quite serious and all of them over a period of like a month? isn’t that a lot for a small airlines? god knows what other violation might have occur prior to that.
They are so good at complaining about every thing, talking about world class blah blah blah, yet they have this. Sheeshh..
It’s not just about cost and profit. It’s also about trying to be popular and populous – of publicity seeking and cengkurik-ing (heboh-ing).
Some of the dictionary definitions of the words that apply to him are:
popular: adapted to the taste of the people (and himself)
populous: thickly inhabited
inhabited: dwell (as in dwelling on allegations of MAHB inefficiency)
I’m awaiting the comments from Anti-Keling Karam.
Me biased? Sure. Coz the bloke is biased against MAHB and Inland Revenue Dept – keeping the airport tax collected from pax for a long time, was it over RM100 million at one time, an wonder how much and for how long now.
With this kind of safety record, I believe a new tag line is in order:
“NOW EVERYONE CAN DIE”
so in the Philippines , the enforcement is good, here bolih kowtim , airport tax pon bolih simpan lama2, apa lagi yang lain2…………..
There is a common saying, ‘ You must have peace and harmony at home before you can fight in the streets !’
Tony F
You are fired!!!
Stupid Tony doing the “You Are Fired” TV programme copy catting the US joker property developer Donald Tramp (spelling intended) purely for the sake of publicity. The tramp was laughed at by the Americans for endlessly raising Barrack Obama’s “birther” issue during the last Presidential elections.
Next time Virgin Airlines boss Richard Branson goes up on a hot air balloon in the Atlantic Ocean, the stupid Tony will jump down from it.
Air Asia is a bullshit airline but yet Azman Mokhtar and his Bina tak tahu fikir Danny Yusof think they are great and should be emoulated!!!
I hope to God that Air Asia will not meet accidents involving loss of lives, especially Malaysian.
But the attitude of the bossman leaves much to be desired and may reflect on how all the aircraft are maintained and whether the Standard Operating Procedures are strictly followed in their flight and aircraft maintenance operations. .
REF: Fernandes convincingly and arrogantly claim that; “If somebody (in a company) screws up, we change them immediately,” he said.
“We got to have people that can adapt to change. Malaysians don’t like change,” he reiterated.
It must be that unintelligent arrogance which contributed to the failure of Queen’s Park Rangers FC in the Barclay’s Premier League
Bagus Tuan BD ketengahkan isu & manipulasi Keling Karam sekor ni, yg sebenarnya banyak betul menyusahkan org terutama rakyat & Kerajaan Malaysia.
Dosa Keling Karam sekor ni memang banyak. Manipulasi agar Pak Lah buatkan terminal LCCT sementara (atas desakan Keling Karam ni, termasuk speaifikasi fasiliti). Kalau ikut hati kaudu dia, aircond pun tak nak!
Pas tu bila pengguna mula rasa tak selesa, sedap ja Keling Karam mulut celupar ni salahkan MAHB.
Dah la kutip cukai penerbangan, tak diberi pada MAHB. Wee Choo Keong dah buktikan cukai penerbangan bagi mereka yg beli tiket tapi tak terbang pun dia nak sapu!
Masa zaman Pak Lah, Keling Karam ni pakat dgn anak Keling Tkt 4 sorang tu untuk buat ‘Airline Rationalisation Plan’. MAS terpaksa ‘serahkan’ majoriti laluan domestik kpd Air Asia.
Bila kerajaan tetapkan Rural Air Service yg MAS buat Air Asia dah kena ambik alih, Keling Karam ni mintak subsidi tambahan. Dah la Pak Lah bagi dia RM250 juta utk RAS, semua laluan tambahan ni SiKeling Karam guna utk kukuhkan book building Air Asia.
Itu modal utk Air Asia disenaraikan, memandangkan syarikat takda aseet. Sejurus ja lepas tu, dia serah balik RAS pada MAS. Tu yg terpaksa buat MASWings.
Tu lom kira Keling Karam ni menganjingkan MAS seolah olah syarikat penerbangan nasional tu ‘musuh masyarakat’. Pas tu cam BD tulis, nak hasut penumpang utk memberontak keatas MAHB.
Lepas tu cuba utk kudakan Sime Darby dalam episod ‘Labu Airport’. Nasib baik gagal!
Keling Karam ni tak boleh diberikan amanah atau kuas, walaupun seketika. Nescaya dia akan meratah jika tidak menjadi parasit, yg menghisap segala zat dan meninggalkan racun sebagai balasan.
Contoh masa PM ikut rentak utk ‘gadaikan’ MAS dibawah Keling Karam ni masa berlaku ‘share swap’, tujuan ialah kunun kunun “sebagai pemimpin korporat yg berjaya, Keling Karam ni akan membantu pemulihan & pengukuhan MAS”.
Sebenar meleset habis harapan berbanding niat!
Keling Karam ni secara buas menyembelih MAS buta buta & sambil meratah dgn rakus!
Segala siapa dlm Air Asia yg dia tak nak, dia campak kat MAS. Contohnya Ketua Kejuruteraan Azahari Dahlan. Lepas tu lantik bangkai cam Zaharah Zaid sebagai Pengarah HR & Al Ishal sebagai Pengarah Pemasaran.
Tu lom cerita MAS kena bayar GBP3 juta sponsorship utk pasukan bola hampeh Keling Karam ni, banding dgn AirAsia hanya belanja GBP500k ja!
Dah la segala A330 yg dia tempah utk AAX tapi tak leh nak terima sebab AAX banyak kurangkan perjalanan/laluan sebab tak menguntungkan, Keling Karam ni nak paksa MAS ambik.
Tu lom cerita hal dia ubah konfigurasi A380 MAS last minit. Sapa yg dah naik tau lah sebab apa kabin Business Class lebih bagus dari First Class.
Episod KLIA2 paling klassik. Dah beberapa berbohong, masih lagi menembalkan muka utk membohong & menyalahkan MAHB. Contohnya dlm isu isu seperti sistem bagasi automatik, aerobridge & landasan ketiga. AA terlibat dalam proses perundingan semasa peringkat pembangunan projek selama 30 kali mesyuarat sebelum Keling Karam ni guna media, terutama The Star untuk menganjingkan MAHB seolah olah MAHB ni agensi lemah, korup & tiada wibawa.
Hakikatnya, AA terlalu lambat membuat keputusan semasa dirunding kerana peranan sykt itu sebagai pengguna utama KLIA2 merupakan salah satu penyumbang utama projek ini lewat!
Lepas tu macam BD dah senaraikan, segala deal yg Keling Kalam ni buat dgn pelbagai sykt di pelbagai negara semua tak jadi. Dah tentu Keling Karam ni kaki penipu atau kencing!
Cukup cukup la Keling Karam yang tiada langsung sifat malu & kesedaran ni bikin kecoh dan memutihkan mata orang dengan kepalsuan dia. Sampai bila dia nak menjadikan warga Malaysia seabagi mangsa wayang & silap mata dia, demi untuk memenuhi nafsu tamak haloba Keling Karam ini yg tergamak menipu & membelit dgn segala kepalsuan janji janji pemasaran yg licik?
[…] own flight operations problems and the issuance of temporary AOC and the more recent, the Zest Air operations being suspended for unsafe […]
[…] need to ‘rationalise’ their operations. It is not sure whether they are facing similar air operations mandatory and regulatory issues to Zest Air recently or this is purely about money. If it is about money, then is it inevitable of the […]
[…] Malaysian public must be reminded that Fernandes’s past twelve years in low class carrier business had been on series of drama, deception, failed deals and summonses by civil aviation and regulatory authorities which include Malaysia, Australia and the Philippines. […]
[…] Malaysian public must be reminded that Fernandes’s past twelve years in low class carrier business had been on series of drama, deception, failed deals and summonses by civil aviation and regulatory authorities which include Malaysia, Australia and the Philippines. […]