Cathay Pacific Airways announced Wednesday that it will add Beijing to its freighter network next month after gaining approval from the Chinese government to launch a new twice-weekly service.

 

The airline will use a Boeing 747-200 Freighter aircraft for the service, which commences on Nov. 15.

 

Flights will operate every Wednesday and Thursday from Hong Kong International Airport to Capital International Airport in Beijing, departing at 11:00 p.m. and arriving the following morning at 2:05 a.m. The return flight departs Beijing at 4:05 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, arriving in Hong Kong at 7:35 a.m..

 

Cathay Pacific Director and General Manager Cargo Ron Mathison said the addition of Beijing to the freighter network will open up new opportunities for shippers in the north of China and strengthen Hong Kong's position as the leading air cargo hub in Asia.

 

For the new service, Cathay Pacific expects the major shipments from Hong Kong and Taiwan to Beijing to be electronics and computers parts, for final assembly in the capital, along with garments. Out of Beijing, finished electronics and computer goods bound for Taiwan, the United States and Europe will fill up much of the freighter space.

 

Beijing will become the 29th destination in Cathay Pacific's freighter network. Chennai, Stockholm and Toronto were also added to the network this year, and the airline added an additional flight on its Dallas/Atlanta service after a successful launch in November 2005.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 26, 2006)