Dragonair sees cargo higher, passenger numbers lower in 2003

Dragonair saw a reduction in passenger numbers for the calendar year 2003 due to SARS, but carried a record amount of cargo over the same period, resulting in the airline ending in the black for the year as a whole.

"That we were able to get through 2003 without seeing red ink at the end of it is remarkable, and testament to the efforts and dedication of the people at Dragonair," said Chief Executive Officer Stanley Hui.

Annual passenger numbers dropped 11.1% over 2002, the result of the severe impact that SARS had on travel last year.

"Travel was devastated in the second quarter, so to see the rebound that we did in the third and fourth quarters was amazing," Mr. Hui said. "As for our cargo operation, it was a record year, and we will be building on that with the addition of a fourth freighter to our fleet in the middle of 2004."

Dragonair posted a 39.6% increase in the amount of cargo carried in 2002, itself a record-breaking year, carrying 269,981 tonnes.

Meanwhile, the numbers for December 2003 showed that 344,627 passengers flew with the airline last month, up 3.9% over November, and 16.7% higher than in the same month in 2002. The amount of cargo carried slipped from 26,452 tonnes in November to 25,342 tonnes in December.

"Leisure and individual travel remained strong in December, and business travel peaked just before the Christmas and New Year holidays," Mr. Hui said. "We expect to see the trend continue with the Lunar New Year holidays later this month.