Hong Kong's flagship carrier Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd said yesterday it will enhance its winter flight schedule to a number of destinations starting this month in anticipation of strong passenger demand after the SARS crisis.
The airline said it would add two flights to its Auckland and Melbourne routes, lifting the number of weekly flights to 13 and 12, while one additional flight would be added to its Rome service taking the total number to five.
Cathay fully restored services to pre-SARS levels at the end of September, three months after the territory was removed from the World Health Organization blacklist of infected SARS areas on June 23.
Cathay Director and Chief Operating Officer, Philip Chen, said following the SARS outbreak, the airline had worked hard to maintain its network and then reinstate suspended flights starting July.
"Now we are continuing to strengthen Hong Kong's position as the regions' leading hub by adding flights to key destinations," Chen said.
Cathay said last month that SARS had a "devastating" impact on its business in the first half of the year, as tourists stayed away from the city.
As a result, Cathay slumped to a net loss of HK$1.24 billion (US$159 million) in the first half of the year, reversing the year earlier profit of HK$1.41 billion.
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