Zest Air (Manila Ninoy Aquino International) has become the first airline to suspend flights between the Philippines and Taiwan amid escalating tensions between the two South East Asian countries following the recent death of a Taiwanese fisherman at the hands of the Filipino Coast Guard. Despite the route proving to be very popular with Taiwanese tourists, Zest Air recently announced the temporary suspension of its Kalibo to Taipei Taoyuan charter flights made at the request of the company that chartered them. Prior to the incident, the airline says there was talk of the route being developed into a regular scheduled flight. However, other Filipino carriers have yet to follow suit with Philippine Airlines (PR, Manila Ninoy Aquino International), Cebu Pacific Air (5J, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) and AirAsia Philippines (Manila Ninoy Aquino International) all maintaining their respective Taiwan-bound operations.