AirAsia Zest, Robinsons tie up for cash payment system

MANILA, Philippines - Low cost carrier AirAsia Zest, jointly owned by Philippines AirAsia and Zest Airways, has tied up with Robinsons Inc.

AirAsia Zest commercial chief Gerard Peñaflor said the partnership would help the airline expand its cash payment system but tapping the 40 branches of Robinsons Department Stores all over the country.

Peñaflor said the airline’s cash payment partner service provides the convenience of paying cash at any Robinsons Department Store for airline seats and other online purchases at www.airasia.com.

“We are expanding our cash payment partner service to include Robinsons Department Store to provide optimum convenience for our guests and allow them access to our low fares and other exclusive online bargain deals without using their credit or debit cards,” he said.

Cash payment partner service covers all AirAsia Zest flights to and from  Manila  to domestic and international destinations in  Malaysia,  China  and  Korea.

Robinsons Department Store general manager Johnson Go said the partnership would benefit close to 120 million yearly shoppers of Robinsons who may opt to pay their airline tickets in the branches.

“AirAsia Zest supports our vision of providing Filipinos with affordable and world-class products and services, which makes them a great partner for us and will benefit our over 120 million annual store visitors. Both brands excel in offering the best value and utmost convenience for customers,” Go added.

AirAsia Zest cash payment service involves three easy steps.

First, passenger books a flight through www.airasia.com followed by clicking the payment option button. Once booking is confirmed, system would generate a reference number with total amount due, to be presented to any Robinsons Department Store sales counter.

Flight must be at least five days from the time of booking and cash payment should be settled up to 12 hours.

E-ticket would be automatically sent to the passenger’s registered e-mail address after payment has been made.

AirAsia  Philippines  and ZestAir entered into a strategic alliance agreement in  March 11 last year.

AirAsia  Philippines  completed the acquisition of an 85 percent economic interest and 49 percent voting rights in ZestAir as well as a 100 percent interest in  Alfredo Yao ‘s Asiawide Airways Inc. last May 10.

In exchange,  Yao ‘s ZestAir got $16 million as well as 13 percent interest in AirAsia  Philippines.

ZestAir is controlled by  Yao  while AirAsia Group through chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes has a 40 percent interest in AirAsia  Philippines  together with Filipino shareholders including Maan Hontiveros, Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco Jr., and Michael Romero who own 60 percent.

After the transaction, the shares of Hontiveros, Cojunagco, and Romero in AirAsia  Philippines  were diluted with the entry of  Yao  while the AirAsia Group was maintained its stake at 40 percent.