Cathay to increase flight frequency to SE Asia

Cathay to increase flight frequency to SE Asia

HONG KONG (Reuters): Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd said it will increase its flights from Hong Kong to Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Manila and Sydney in its new winter schedule.

Industry observers said the increases are being made despite Cathay suffering what it has described as its worst year for decades for passenger revenue. The new frequencies will also add substantially to Cathay's cargo-carrying capacity, industry sources said.

Cathay plans to add three non-stop flights on its Hong Kong- Sydney route using Airbus A340 aircraft on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from October 26, an airline statement said. The increase brings the number of flights between the two cities to 10 a week.

Latest air transport statistics issued by Australia's Department of Transport and Regional Development show Hong Kong- Sydney is Australia's third busiest route for air cargo, but tonnage fell three percent for the year ended April 1997.

Cathay flights on Wednesdays and Saturdays will also be added to the Hong Kong-Kuala Lumpur route, lifting Cathay's flights on the route to 13 a week.

The airline is adding another Monday flight to the Hong Kong- Jakarta route to bring its frequency to 14 flights a week, the highest of any carrier on the route, the statement added.

One additional non-stop flight between Hong Kong and Singapore a week will give customers a daily option of three non-stop flights on the route.

Four new flights -- on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays -- are also being added to the Hong Kong to Manila route, bringing the number of Cathay flights on the route to 32 a week by November 22.

"The increase in capacity is in response to customer demand for more frequencies within Asia. When Chek Lap Kok (Hong Kong's new airport) opens in 1998, we aim to increase our operating schedules to these destinations still further," said Patrick Yeung, Cathay's southeast Asia route manager.

The new frequencies will start between October 26 and November 22, Cathay said.