Cathay Pacific is to add a fifth daily Heathrow-Hong Kong service from June 27.
The new frequency will be operated by the carrier’s four-class B777-300ER aircraft, fitted with Cathay’s new premium economy seat (for a Tried and Tested review of the premium economy product on this route click here).
Cathay says that the new seat “continues to grow in popularity on the London route”, adding that the new frequency will add around 1,000 premium economy seats per month to the route in both directions.
The carrier’s summer schedule on the route (including the extra frequency from June 27) is as follows:
Fellow Oneworld member BA also serves the Heathrow-Hong Kong route, as does Virgin Atlantic and Star Alliance carrier Air New Zealand, although the last of these is due to drop its flights from March 4 (see online news November 5, 2012).
It seems that it is this decision, along with the creation of a "strategic alliance" between Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific, which has enabled today's announcement. Cathay Pacific provided Business Traveller with a comment as follows:
"In response to customer demand for additional daily flights between London and Hong Kong and beyond, we have wanted to increase our Heathrow services for some time, but slots are difficult to come by. We were recently able to secure a pair of slots as they were no longer required by another airline.
For more information visit cathaypacific.com.
Report by Mark Caswell