Cathay Pacific to use longhaul aircraft on regional routes

Cathay Pacific Airways will be changing its aircraft usage on Asian routes in order to maximise capacity and control costs.

The carrier will use some of their long-haul widebody Airbus A330 aircraft on regional Asian routes – a system Tony Tyler, outgoing chief executive of the carrier, calls “intelligent misuse” - to avoid the build up of a fleet of single aisle planes. These aircraft would otherwise be idle during the day after their overnight long-haul flights.

The carrier’s subsidiary aircraft, Dragonair, has a total of 30 aircraft of which 16 are narrowbody planes to use when starting up new routes, stated Tyler. Some of the A330s will be transferred to Dragonair as the carrier gears up to boost services to China. 

Additionally, Cathay Pacific - along with Singapore Airlines and All Nippon Airways – was granted the approval by the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (CAD) to raise passenger fuel surcharge.

In tandem with global oil price hikes, fuel surcharges have been raised by 8 percent for short haul flights and 10 percent for long haul flights. From now until January 31, 2011, prices will go from HK$120 (US$15) to HK$129 (US$16) for short haul flights and from HK$566 (US$72) to HK$621 (US$79) for long haul. The surcharges will apply to tickets issued on or before January 31, 2011.

For more information, visit www.cathaypacific.com

Alisha Haridasani