Dragonair records record numbers in July 2004

More passengers flew with Dragonair in July than in any other month in its history, with numbers surpassing the 400,000-mark for the first time, while the airline’s cargo operation also set a new monthly uplift record.

Dragonair flew 412,828 passengers in the month – 6.7% higher than in June when the last passenger record was set - driven by leisure traffic as the summer holidays got under way.

“It was a good month for us, with records set in both passenger and cargo operations,” said Chief Executive Officer Stanley Hui. “The start of the summer holidays has given a huge boost to passenger traffic, with Bangkok, Tokyo and Chengdu among the top destinations. The increase in frequencies to Mainland cities where the Individual Travel Scheme has been extended also helped to boost numbers.”

Dragonair’s cargo operation, meanwhile, carried a record 28,195 tonnes, 7.5% higher than in June and 23.4% higher than in the same month last year. The previous record of 27,485 tonnes was set in March this year.

“Shipments from Hong Kong were particularly strong in July, but the figures reflect a buoyant performance throughout the network,” said Mr. Hui.

“With the two major hubs of Frankfurt and London Stansted added to our freighter network at the end of last month we can expect even greater things to come in terms of uplift in the following months.”

Hui noted however, “Despite the excellent numbers for July, passenger yields remain depressed as most traffic over the summer is group leisure travel. And the background to our record passenger and cargo highs has been a record high in the price of fuel. These factors are inevitably feeding through to the bottomline.”