CATHAY PACIFIC ADDS NEW DESTINATION WITH WELLINGTON CODESHARE

Cathay Pacific Airways today announced the addition of New Zealand's capital Wellington to its network through a codeshare agreement with Ansett New Zealand. The codeshare agreement covers Ansett New Zealand's existing services between Wellington and New Zealand's largest city Auckland. The codeshare service will become effective on 1 July 2000 and offer greater convenience for passengers travelling between New Zealand and Hong Kong.

Under the agreement, Ansett New Zealand's flights from Wellington to Auckland will carry Cathay Pacific's flight number CX1116, while its flights from Auckland to Wellington will carry Cathay Pacific's flight number CX1115. The codeshare services will connect with two of Cathay Pacific's daily flights: CX108 (Auckland to Hong Kong), and CX107 (Hong Kong to Auckland).

Cathay Pacific's Director Corporate Development Tony Tyler said: "We are extremely pleased to be able to enter into closer cooperation with our longstanding partner Ansett New Zealand. This new codeshare service will further strengthen our network and offer our passengers from around the world more convenient access to New Zealand's capital."

Ansett New Zealand's Public Relations Manager John Cordery said: "We are delighted to be expanding our codeshare arrangements with Cathay Pacific and to be able to seamlessly offer the benefits of a global alliance through the oneworld member airlines."

Cathay Pacific and Ansett New Zealand have operated a successful codeshare service on the Christchurch-Auckland-Hong Kong route since 1996. Cathay Pacific first started regular scheduled services to New Zealand in 1983

Hong Kong's airline Cathay Pacific flies to 28 countries and territories around the world. The airline operates one of the youngest and most modern fleets of any major airline with an average age of its passenger aircraft of just 5.4 years.

Ansett New Zealand flies to 11 destinations around New Zealand. As announced earlier this week, Ansett New Zealand will soon be renamed Qantas New Zealand and adopt the Qantas Airways brand. The airline will offer Qantas products and services, with aircraft carrying the Qantas livery and front line staff wearing Qantas uniforms.