Dragonair reduces frequencies by a further 23%

Dragonair has announced additional reductions in passenger services due to the decline in demand for air travel resulting from the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

The service changes, which become effective today, amount to an additional 64 flights per week or an additional 23% reduction in Dragonair's planned passenger frequencies.

"With demand for travel continuing to decline we have had to take the decision to temporarily scale back services further," said Andy Tung, Dragonair's General Manager, Marketing & Sales.

Flights to Beijing and Shanghai will be reduced to 28 flights a week and 42 flights a week respectively. Taipei will continue to have 21 flights a week, with smaller-capacity aircraft being operated.

Services to Chengdu, Fuzhou, Guilin, Hangzhou, Kaohsiung, Kota Kinabalu, Kunming, Nanjing, Ningbo, Phnom Penh, Qingdao and Xiamen will all see further reductions.

In addition to the eight destinations announced last week, flights to Changsha will also be suspended, except for one flight on April 12.

Mr. Tung said: "As long as SARS continues to affect demand, the number of people travelling will be lower than usual. We hope the outbreak will be contained quickly and that demand among travellers returns soon. We can then look forward to reinstating frequencies and destinations."