Cathay Pacific Airways announced Wednesday that it will add Beijing to its
freighter network next month after gaining approval from the Chinese government
to launch a new twice-weekly service.
The airline will use a Boeing 747-200 Freighter aircraft for the service,
which commences on November 15.
Flights will operate every Wednesday and Thursday from Hong Kong
International Airport to Capital International Airport in Beijing, departing at
11:00 p.m. and arriving the following morning at 2:05 a.m. The return flight
departs Beijing at 4:05 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, arriving in Hong Kong at
7:35 a.m..
Cathay Pacific Director and General Manager Cargo Ron Mathison said the
addition of Beijing to the freighter network will open up new opportunities for
shippers in the north of China and strengthen Hong Kong's position as the
leading air cargo hub in Asia.
For the new service, Cathay Pacific expects the major shipments from Hong
Kong and Taiwan to Beijing to be electronics and computers parts, for final
assembly in the capital, along with garments. Out of Beijing, finished
electronics and computer goods bound for Taiwan, the United States and Europe
will fill up much of the freighter space.
Beijing will become the 29th destination in Cathay Pacific's freighter
network. Chennai, Stockholm and Toronto were also added to the network this
year, and the airline added an additional flight on its Dallas/Atlanta service
after a successful launch in November 2005.
