Cathay to spread wings on flights and services

New flights and services, enhanced products and a strengthening of Cathay Pacific's relationship with shareholder Air China are among the priorities for the Hong Kong-listed airline, chief executive-designate John Slosar said.

Cathay Pacific is set to report record profits for 2010 in March. Slosar said that while the airline had yet to see any impact on its premium business and first-class traffic amid economic woes in some Western economies, "instability does give us concerns for 2011", reported the South china Morning Post.

"Next year will be challenging," Slosar said at a press briefing after the airline confirmed that he would take over as chief executive on April 1. This would follow Tony Tyler's departure on March 31 prior to his expected election in early June as the new director-general and chief executive of the International Air Transport Association in Geneva.

Outlining the carrier's expansion plans, Slosar said Cathay would take delivery of 15 aircraft next year, which would be the highest number of aircraft ever delivered to the carrier in a single year. This would allow the airline to add extra destinations and boost existing flight schedules.

Explaining these additions, Tyler, who was also at the briefing, said a four-times-a-week service would be launched between Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi from June 2, while a daily flight to Chicago would start on September 1. There would be additional flights to New York from March and to Toronto from May.

On the airline's tie-up with Air China, Slosar said Air China Cargo, Cathay's "core relationship" with the mainland flag carrier, would get started this year. Cathay has agreed to sell four Boeing 747-400 freighters converted from passenger aircraft to its cargo joint venture with Air China.

Tyler added that Cathay Pacific already had a close relationship with Air China, which owns almost 30 per cent of the Hong Kong carrier, which it wants to develop further with more co-operation. He said Cathay Pacific was "looking to add one or two new (mainland) destinations".

Slosar also indicated the airline's tacit support for a third runway at Chek Lap Kok. He said the development of a third runway was "going to be a really important issue for Hong Kong to decide in 2011".
(Source:www.cargonewsasia.com)