January 2008, Asian Spirit was sold to AMY Holdings, a holding company controlled by businessman Alfredo Yao. The acquisition was completed on March 29 of that year. After the success of the takeover, Yao expressed interest in merging Asian Spirit with South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR). Yao had been expected to purchase a sixty percent stake in SEAIR, but the merger talks failed and both airlines continued to operate independently. On September 30, 2008, Asian Spirit announced that it would be re-branding itself as Zest Airways to reflect the stake of the owner, Zest-O Corporation, in the airline. In 2009, Zest Airways intended to establish a hub at Diosdado Macapagal International Airport. Partnership with AirAsia and merger On March 11, 2013, Zest Airways signed a share swap agreement with AirAsia Philippines. The share swap deal involved exchange of shares between the owner of Zest Airways, Filipino shareholders of AirAsia Philippines, Inc. and AirAsia Berhad of Malaysia. On the same day, the airlines announced a strategic alliance that would integrate the operations of both airlines while still operating as separate entities. The deal closed on May 10, 2013. On August 16, 2013, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) suspended the airline's air operating certificate due to safety issues. The suspension was lifted on August 20. Less than a year after the strategic alliance with AirAsia Philippines, on September 21, the airline was rebranded as "AirAsia Zest". During its initial phases, ZestAir's website carried an image of an aircraft featuring AirAsia's signature red livery and the Zest title on the body and AirAsia's signature red livery on the tail. The rebranded airline has a new theme "AirAsia Zest, the right way to fly." AirAsia Zest eventually merged with AirAsia Philippines in 2015 to form Philippines AirAsia. This merger effectively phased out the AirAsia Zest brand. Both airlines completed the transition to a single operating certificate in September of that year. AirAsia Zest then ceased operations on December 6, 2015. Destinations Fleet AirAsia Zest and its predecessors operated the following aircraft during its existence: Accidents and incidents As Asian Spirit December 7, 1999: Asian Spirit Flight 100, a Let L-410, crashed between Kasibu in Nueva Vizcaya and Cabarroguis in Quirino, killing all 15 passengers on board and 2 crew. The plane was headed for Cauayan Airport in Cauayan. The accident forced the closure of the Manila-Cauayan route, which remained closed until