Airline insists flights from December 1 will have a market despite unpopular time slots and empty seats on route
Cathay Pacific Airways will resume its passenger service between Hong Kong and Shanghai on December 1 after a 16-year break, starting with one flight a day each way.
Announcing the development yesterday, the company insisted there is a market for the flights - which are still subject to formal Hong Kong government approval - despite being scheduled at unpopular time slots and the route being plagued by unused capacity.
The airline did not elaborate on how moving into this market dovetails with its takeover tomorrow of Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, one of two carriers serving the route.
China Eastern Airlines and Dragonair together have 68 daily flights between the two cities, taking off at least twice an hour from 10.20am to 8.40pm, crowding out competition from preferred slots.
Cathay's flights are scheduled to leave Hong Kong at 6.40pm and land in Shanghai at 9.15pm except on Friday when they will depart at 11.35pm. The return passages will depart at 10.35pm and arrive at 1.15am except on Saturday when they leave at 3.05am.
A few months ago, China Eastern management said it is struggling to fill 60 per cent of seats on the route with paying passengers.
