Beijing, March 26: Hong Kong's leading air carrier, Cathay Pacific on Monday launched a new non-stop service between Hong Kong and Delhi, with 90 per cent occupancy on its first flight. The new air route, operating four times a week, uses an airbus A330-300 aircraft.The new route became possible with an air traffic rights agreement signed between Hong Kong and India on January 19, 2001.
Cathay Pacific believes that the agreement will bring great benefits to tourism and business interests in both places.
"The airlines of both Hong Kong and India now have far greater room to grow and a greater capacity to provide extra seats for passengers and space for cargo," reports from Hong Kong said.
The route should also prove popular with business travellers given the increasing business ties between India, Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, the agency quoted Cathay Pacific as saying.
Seat factor on the first flight from Hong Kong to Delhi hit 90 per cent, while booking for the coming month also looks very strong, with an average seat factor of over 50 per cent on ex-Hong Kong flights, and over 60 per cent on ex-Delhi flights, the report said.
Under the new service, Delhi will become Cathay Pacific's second passenger destination in India after Mumbai. The airline began flying to Mumbai in 1982.
Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
