Cathay to launch Chicago and Abu Dhabi routes

The Hong Kong-based carrier will launch a daily service to Chicago next September, along with four times-weekly flights to Abu Dhabi in June. It will also increase frequencies to New York and Toronto. The Chicago service will commence on September 1, with CX806 departing Hong Kong at 1145 and arriving in Chicago at 1345. The return leg CX807 will leave the US city at 1525, landing back in Hong Kong at 2000 the following day. The Chicago service will be operated with B777-300ER aircraft, and Cathay says it will also announce codeshare services with Oneworld partner American Airlines from Chicago “in the near future”. Flights to Abu Dhabi launch on June 2, and will operate on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, with CX683 departing Hong Kong at 0030, landing in Abu Dhabi at 0450, and CX682 leaving the emirate at 1810, landing in Hong Kong at 0600 the following day. The Abu Dhabi service adds to Cathay’s existing twice-daily flights to Dubai. Cathay says it will also increase frequencies to both New York and Toronto next year, with three extra weekly flights to New York between March 27 and May 1, rising to an extra daily service from May 2. Two extra weekly flights will be added to the Toronto route from May 1, increasing the offering to double daily. The new routes and increased frequencies will be of interest to travellers on round-the-world tickets with Oneworld, allowing for easier connections in the North America and the Gulf region. All new flights will be available for purchase from December 9 – for more information visit cathaypacific.com. Report by Mark Caswell