Cathay Pacific Gets New Airbus A330-300
Cathay Pacific Airways will tomorrow take delivery of the first of six new wide-body passenger aircraft. The new Airbus A330-300 will bring to 21 the number of aircraft of this type in the Cathay Pacific fleet.
The airline has two more A330-300 aircraft on order and three Boeing B777-300s, all of which will arrive by early 2004. Orders for these aircraft were placed in April 2002.
All six aircraft will operate on regional routes. Five will be in a two-class, Business Class and Economy Class configuration. One A330-300 will be in a three-class configuration that includes a First Class cabin. This aircraft will operate on services to Australia and the Middle East.
This phase of Cathay Pacific’s fleet expansion reflects the company`s continued commitment to maintain the long-term growth of the airline and enhance Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s leading aviation hub.
Cathay Pacific Director Corporate Planning Augustus Tang said: “The Airbus and Boeing aircraft types being delivered have proven their ability to serve the company well, and we are pleased to take delivery of this A330-330 and five more aircraft in due course. Planning for new aircraft acquisition requires a long lead time, and decisions are made with an eye on the continued development of the company rather than satisfying immediate demands for capacity. Although we suffered a substantial shock during the SARS crisis our passenger business is gradually picking up, albeit with depressed yields. These aircraft will, as expected, play a vital role as we continue to develop our network and services.”
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