United Airlines brings New York to Hong Kong for an afternoon of fun Giant street-style party celebrates new non-stop flights to the Big Apple

United Airlines is bringing the excitement of the New York street scene to town at a special afternoon party on February 10 to celebrate the launch of its daily, direct flights from Hong Kong to the Big Apple on April 2.

A section of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre will be turned into a giant celebration of New York life for "United Airlines Day In New York", with free public admission.

A mixture of Hong Kong and American acts will provide non-stop entertainment from 2.00pm to 6.00pm with street artwork from America's most famous city as a backdrop. A mini parade will kick the party off and themed booths and linked competitions will offer the public the chance to get in on the act. New York-style food will also be available at a reasonable cost.

"We are excited about providing the only non-stop link between Hong Kong and New York's John F Kennedy airport," said Nicolas E Ferri, General Sales Manager for United Airlines in Hong Kong. "So we thought we would give Hong Kong a taste of what New York has to offer.

"It is also our way to say thank you for all the support our customers have given us over the years. We are proud to offer more non-stop flights to more US cities than any other airline operating out of Hong Kong and we want to celebrate with everyone.

"Visitors can expect a fun-filled day, a spirit of celebration and the possibility to win a number of free tickets to New York City."

Highlights of the day will include jazz and hip hop dance by Academy for the Performing Arts students, a skateboard demonstration, rapid-fire rap talk from two US bar performers and the excitement of a breakdance show by Unidancity, made up of Hong Kong graduates who continued their interest in dance after leaving university.

The Fringe Club has helped provide a top-class magician and juggler. Pupils from the Island, American International, Chinese International and Christian Alliance P.C. Lau Memorial International Schools will add a splash of colour by competing in a live, wall painting competition. Face and body painting demonstrations complete the afternoon line-up.

Off-stage visitors can try skateboarding and face painting or watch street basketball, charcoal sketching and a close-up magic show by Albert Tang. Rainbowland, another Fringe Club regular, will add impromptu mime shows to the attractions.

Competitions are linked to many of the activities. United Airlines' tickets to New York will make up the prize for the final lucky draw.

The party goes on into the evening at a function for United Airlines' invited guests featuring Spring Poetry, Hong Kong's top tap dancers and Saturday Night Jazz Orchestra, the big band that plays regularly at The Jazz Club, Star Alliance CityFestival and top-line social functions.

United Airlines is adding New York to its list of major, non-stop US flights that already includes San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago, using Boeing 747-400s.

From Hong Kong it also offers daily non-stop service to Singapore and Tokyo. Non-stop service to Delhi, India, will begin on April 1.

United, a member of Star Alliance, is the largest air carrier in the world, operating more than 2,400 flights to 130 destinations in 26 countries and two U.S. territories.