Cathay Pacific adds planes to Hong Kong, seeks to reopen after Covid

Robert Besser
24 Jun 2022, 11:25 GMT+10

Executives from Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific said the airline will bring back more planes to rebuild Hong Kong's status as a flight hub amidst easing restrictions
Since Singapore eased quarantine rules, Cathy's rival, Singapore Airlines, has witnessed a surge in demand
Hong Kong's decision to gradually reduce the quarantine time for passengers, which was as high as three weeks for arriving travelers, including from the U.S. and the UK, is encouraging

HONG KONG: Impacted by strict quarantine rules that caused a 98 percent drop in passengers, executives from Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific said the airline will bring back more planes to rebuild Hong Kong's status as a flight hub amidst easing restrictions.

On the sidelines of an airline industry gathering in Doha, Cathay Chief Executive Augustus Tang told Reuters, "We have about one-third of our passenger fleet still parked in the desert, not being utilized. We are making preparations for them gradually coming back ahead of the curve."

Since Singapore eased quarantine rules, Cathy's rival, Singapore Airlines, has witnessed a surge in demand, which was back at 61 percent of pre-COVID-19 capacity in May, filling 78.2 percent of seats, their best month since the start of the pandemic.

In contrast, in May Cathay Pacific operated only 4 percent of its pre-COVID capacity, filling 60.5 percent of seats.

Hong Kong's decision to gradually reduce the quarantine time for passengers, which was as high as three weeks for arriving travelers, including from the U.S. and the UK, is encouraging, Tang stressed.

"It is moving in the right direction, and the momentum is gathering, so we are pretty optimistic that we are going to see more and more of this opening up," he added.

Cathay has resumed flights to 45 destinations, up from 30 at the start of the year, with 70 destinations to be available by the end of the year as demand improves, compared to the 108 passenger destinations it operated before the pandemic, he added.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Trinidad Times.

More Information

77 ℉

Light Rain in Picaro

International

Section

UK offers to help Ukraine clear mines, export grain

LONDON, England: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said this week that in order to move millions of tonnes of grain ...

Myanmar's Suu Kyi moved to military junta in country's capital

YANGON, Myanmar: Myanmar's military authorities have transferred deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi to a prison in the capital Naypyitaw ...

Moslem protesters in Maldives disrupt International Day of Yoga event

MALDIVES, Male: Police used tear gas and pepper spray this week to control a crowd who disrupted a yoga event ...

S. Korea send satellite into orbit on successful rocket launch

SEOUL, South Korea: After a first test launch failed last year, this week officials said South Korea's second test launch ...

US Senate to vote on bipartisan law to cap insulin at $35 per month

WASHINGTON D.C.: Bipartisan legislation aimed at lowering U.S. insulin costs will be put to a vote on the Senate floor ...

UK's Telegraph news block in Russia due to war coverage

MOSCOW, Russia: The UK newspaper, the Telegraph, has been blocked in Russia, following a request from the Russian prosecutor-general.The TASS ...

Caribbean

Section