Asian Spirit now called Zest Airways

MANILA, Philippines - Budget airline Asian Spirit, Inc. will soon be carrying a new name after regulators approved the amendments to its articles of incorporation on Thursday. Asian Spirit has changed its name to Zest Airways, Inc. its amended incorporation articles submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) showed. In a phone interview, Asian Spirit Chairman Donald G. Dee said the name switch seeks to reflect the stake of its new owner, juice maker Zest-O Corp. Chairman Alfredo M. Yao, in the firm. Mr. Dee said they would come out with for the plans for the rechristened firm in the next few weeks. The firm’s board approved the name change in August, while the Civil Aeronautics Board okayed the switch earlier this month. Set up in 1995, Asian Spirit flies to 12 local and three international destinations — Incheon, Korea; Sandakan, Malaysia; and Macau — using a fleet of 10 planes. Mr. Yao bought Asian Spirit in March reportedly for P1 billion. Earlier this year, As an Spirit offered to buy rival Southeast Asian Airlines, Inc. but the two failed to close the deal. — Don Gil K. Carreon, BusinessWolrd