DRAGONAIR’S FIRST PURCHASED FREIGHTER ENTERS SERVICE

Dragonair’s first purchased freighter, a Boeing 747-300, took off from Hong Kong International Airport today bound for Osaka. The new aircraft, bought along with another 747-300 combi aircraft at the end of last year and recently converted into a freighter, joins a wet-leased Boeing 747-200 in the airline’s cargo fleet.

The new freighter is allowing Dragonair to boost cargo frequencies to Dubai, Manchester and Amsterdam to five a week from three a week, and increase all-cargo flights to Shanghai to twice a week.

“The new freighter is entering service in a period when the cargo market has slowed worldwide, but we are committed to the market for the long-term," said Dragonair CEO, Stanley Hui. “The aircraft’s arrival and the increase in frequencies are a clear demonstration of that.”

“We’re also optimistic on the prospects for air freight following China’s WTO entry.”

In the run-up to the freighter entering service, Dragonair has been strengthening its presence around Europe with the appointment of general sales agents. It now has GSAs in 15 countries. It has also moved its UK cargo sales in-house.

In addition to Europe, the Middle East and mainland China, Dragonair also operates a twice-weekly freighter service between Hong Kong and Osaka.

The airline’s second purchased freighter, now undergoing conversion into a freighter at TAECO in Xiamen, is scheduled to join the fleet in October.

Dragonair serves 18 cities in mainland China and is a recognised expert in serving the markets there, offering more than 150 flights a week.

Dragonair is a Hong Kong-based airline, operating a fleet of seven A330-300s, three A321s and seven A320s, in addition to two Boeing freighters. It is currently in the midst of a programme to more than double its fleet by the end of 2005. The airline’s passenger network covers 28 destinations across the Asia-Pacific region, while its cargo network connects the markets of Europe, the Middle East, Japan and China.