Cathay Pacific Aims To Fly Higher

By Christine Lim KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 (Bernama) -- Hong Kong-based airline, Cathay Pacific, aims to fly higher after a turbulent year and increase its footprint in Malaysia by expanding its flight network and offering competitive fares. Country Manager Malaysia and Brunei, Anna Choi, said in spite of intense competition, Cathay Pacific performs well in Malaysia with the passenger load factor exceeding 85 per cent during peak season. As the largest international airline in Asia and known as a premium carrier with a five-star rating, it reported the first losses since 2008 for its 2016 financial result, weighed by stiff competition from Chinese carriers. "The Cathay Pacific Group remains committed to the Malaysian market and has been serving the country for 60 years since our first flight in August 1957," she told Bernama. Choi said Cathay Pacific is now looking at a seasonal expansion of its Penang-Hong Kong flights from 10 per week to 12 with the addition of two more flights per week from July to October this year. "We would review the market demand and undertake a feasibility study if there is a need for further expansion for the Penang-Hong Kong flights after October," she said. According to Choi, Cathay Dragon, a member of the Cathay Pacific Group, operates 43 flights a week between Malaysia and Hong Kong, with Hong Kong being its hub and point of transit to other worldwide destinations. Cathay Dragon started its inaugural flight to Kuala Lumpur on March 1 this year, Choi said. "The airline flies to 20 cities in China, and also to countries in South-East Asia, and Taiwan, amongst others. "In Malaysia, we currently operate 28 flights a week from Kuala Lumpur, 10 flights a week from Penang (northern state) and five flights a week from Kota Kinabalu (in east Malaysian state Sabah)," she said. She said passengers from Malaysia, who are flying to destinations beyond Hong Kong, will fly with Cathay Dragon to Hong Kong International Airport, after which they can seamlessly use a Cathay Pacific or Cathay Dragon flight to their intended destinations. Cathay Pacific, as a flagship Hong Kong-based carrier, she said, will continue to boost its network with Hong Kong as the main connecting point to all other international destinations. "In 2016, we launched new destinations, such as to Madrid and Gatwick. This year we will also continue to add flights to Boston, Vancouver, Toronto, Gatwick, San Francisco, Manchester and Paris, offering our customers more choices and flexibility when they fly with us," she said. She said the airline is offering promotions to Hong Kong, Taiwan, China and North American destinations this month for the Malaysian market. Cathay Pacific is confident of the Malaysian market and globally and it is currently embarking on a three-year transformation programme to boost market share to face stiff competition from emerging airlines, she said. "We also continue to promote Hong Kong as a popular destination for Malaysians with key attractions including Hong Kong cuisine, theme parks and shopping. Travelling in the city is easy as it is supported by its good public transport system," she said. Choi said Hong Kong, as a financial hub and gateway to China, has also attracted a steady flow of business travellers. She said Cathay Pacific is ready to face vigorous growth with its new aircraft capacity. "Our young, environmental-friendly and fuel-efficient long-haul fleet enables us to compete well in a challenging time," she said. The arrival of 12 A350-900 aircraft recently and the other 10 A350-900 to come by year-end will help to open up new markets and add more frequencies, she said. "The 26 A350-1000 aircraft joining us between 2018 and 2020 will give us more capacity and range," she said. Cathay Pacific, she said, is also studying the market demand for cargo services in Malaysia. "We currently operate three times weekly freighter aircraft from Penang to Hong Kong which carries a range of products such as commodities and perishables," she said. She said Cathay Pacific also explores codeshare opportunities and areas of collaborations with other airlines to offer more choices to passengers. "As a founder member of the oneworld alliance, we collaborate with other member airlines such as Malaysia Airlines, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Qantas, American Airlines and Qatar Airways," she said. These airlines in the oneworld alliance, she said, serve over 1,000 airports in over 150 countries. Choi said Cathay Pacific's new cooperation agreement with the Lufthansa Group will see the airline codeshare on flights operated by Lufhtansa, Swiss and Austrian Airlines to a number of destinations in continental Europe, offering more destination choices for travellers. Cathay Pacific, according to Choi, currently offers scheduled passenger and cargo services to nearly 200 destinations in Asia, North America, Australia, Europe and Africa. Cathay Dragon, a member of the Cathay Pacific Group, she said, currently serves 53 destinations in Asia, including 23 cities in Mainland China. --BERNAMA