All-women crew rules the sky

DAVAO CITY—AirAsia Philippines re-launched on Friday its Manila-Davao-Manila flight through Flight Z2611, which was manned by an all-female crew.

AirAsia officials said the relaunch of the Manila-Davao route manifested its recognition of the city as an important gateway to Mindanao.

The airline company said it would serve the Manila-Davao route with three daily flights.

Joy Caneba, AirAsia Philippines chief executive officer, said AirAsia was happy to serve the route again, which it canceled in June 2013.

Jenny Bugarin-Tan, AirAsia communications chief, said the company took on the route in 2013 after it partnered with the route’s former operator, Zest Air.

“Manila-Davao was operated by Zest Air then and, when AirAsia partnered with Zest in 2013 via strategic alliance, it was suspended in June 2013 as part of realignment of our network,” Tan said.

“We are very happy to be back in Davao again,” Caneba told reporters during the resumption of the service on Friday.

She said the airline company also decided to use an all-female crew during Friday’s relaunch of the service in celebration of Women’s Month.

“At AirAsia, women work shoulder-to-shoulder with their male counterparts from the office of the CEO, flight operations, engineering, cargo, ramp, ground services to key operational and support departments. We are very proud of their achievements and contributions in ensuring that we give only the best, quality service to our passengers,” Caneba said.

Flight Z2611 from Manila was piloted by Capt. Gisela Bendong, a Cebuana. She and her copilot Andrea Maria Halaguena landed the plane at the Davao International Airport around 9:35 a.m.

Caneba said women make up almost 40 percent of AirAsia Philippines’ workers, including seven pilots and copilots. Joselle Badilla, Inquirer Mindanao