Cathay Pacific adds flights to Auckland and Bangkok

17 July 2002

Cathay Pacific today announced that from November it will add three new flights a week to New Zealand, creating a double-daily service to Auckland every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The airline will also in September restore a temporarily suspended flight to Bangkok.

The airline currently operates a daily non-stop service between Hong Kong and Auckland. The new flight will give customers more flexibility and choice, and its earlier departure time from Auckland will improve connections at Cathay Pacific's Hong Kong hub to onward destinations in Asia, the Middle East and North America. Flights will be operated by an Airbus A340-300 aircraft fitted with Cathay Pacific's new Business Class cabin.

The 1 September restoration of CX709 to Bangkok means that Cathay Pacific will offer five daily non-stop services to the Thai capital. The late evening departure from Hong Kong and mid-morning return from Bangkok conveniently plug gaps in the airline's schedule that existed at those times of the day.

Cathay Pacific Director Corporate Planning Augustus Tang said: "More passengers from New Zealand are travelling via Asia to the United Kingdom and Europe, and tourist arrivals from Asia to New Zealand have also soared. The new capacity will give customers more choice and flexibility, and will further strengthen Hong Kong's position as the region's leading aviation hub."

Mr Tang added: "The additional Bangkok service will provide added convenience - especially for those travelling on business, who will have time for dinner in Hong Kong before departure, and choose from three morning flights from Bangkok."