Dragonair launches Hong Kong-Manila service

Cathay Pacific-owned Dragonair is launching a new service from Manila to Hong Kong, Asia’s leading hub and a foremost destination of choice for Filipinos.

The new Hong Kong-Manila service will commence on Dec. 15 (Dec. 16 for Manila-Hong Kong) with a five-times-weekly flight operated by an A320 aircraft. This offers new opportunities for people travelling between the Philippines and Hong Kong, company officials pointed out.

“We are excited to announce our entry into the Philippines market to offer a wider choice of options for travellers. Traffic flow and demand between Manila and Hong Kong continues to grow and the new service will be a significant boon in terms of business and trading activities between Hong Kong and the Philippines,” Dragonair chief executive officer Kenny Tang said.

Tang added that the new addition reinforces Dragonair’s long-term commitment to build on their network not only in their core Mainland market but also in Asia.

“Despite the current financial crisis, we are confident in the long-term prospect of the travel industry. We believe that the Manila service will perform well and will play an important role in our business in the years to come,” he said.

Dragonair is a Hong Kong-based international airline and a member of the Cathay Pacific Group. Established in 1985, the airline now operates a fleet of 16 A330-300s, six A321s and 10 A320s, in addition to one Boeing 747-200 freighter and three 747-400 Boeing converted freighters. The airline’s passenger service and freighter network covers 33 destinations across the Asia-Pacific region, including 20 in mainland China. - Mary Ann Reyes