Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways will resume its seasonal flights to Christchurch throughout the Southern hemisphere summer season season commencing in December.
The nonstop service will initially be operated by the airline’s Airbus A350-900 plane, providing clients the selection of financial system, premium financial system and enterprise class journey.
Flights will depart Hong Kong on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, arriving in Christchurch the next morning.
Tickets will go on sale right now. Flights will function thrice every week between December 16 and February 29.
The seasonal restart is Cathay Pacific’s first because the pandemic and can show a great addition to the Christchurch and South Island areas, notably tourism operators and exporters, in addition to these seeking to join with family and friends in Asia, Europe and past.
Cathay Pacific Performing Regional Head of Southwest Pacific Sandeep Pillay welcomed the announcement saying it was nice information for these within the area and the airline. He mentioned:
“Cathay Pacific has been flying to New Zealand for 40 years and we’re proud to be returning to Christchurch. Resuming our continuous Christchurch to Hong Kong service is a major milestone within the rebuilding of Cathay Pacific’s connectivity. We all know it’s a preferred route and one we actually worth. In reality, it’s the primary seasonal route we’ve reinstated because the pandemic,” commented Cathay Pacific performing regional head Southwest Pacific, Sandeep Pillay.
Pillay added that ought to the service show common, the airline could look to extend capability on the route by switching the plane from the A350-900 to the bigger A350-1000, including a further 54 seats per flight.
Christchurch Airport Chief Govt Justin Watson welcomed information of the service and may be very a lot wanting ahead to having the world class service again.
“That is one other vote of confidence in Christchurch, Canterbury and the broader South Island each as a customer vacation spot and a producer of high quality, excessive worth items. It’s unbelievable information that may have widespread financial advantages – we sit up for seeing the Cathay Pacific tail exterior our terminal quickly,” mentioned Christchurch Airport chief govt, Justin Watson.
Having launched in 2017, the service enhances Cathay Pacific’s present Auckland-Hong Kong service, operated as a part of a long-standing three way partnership with Air New Zealand.
This summer season, Cathay Pacific and Air New Zealand will collectively function 10 flights every week between Hong Kong and New Zealand’s industrial capital Auckland.
Cathay Pacific will fly to Auckland thrice every week – on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays – and Air New Zealand will function each day flights between the cities with its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner plane.
The Cathay Pacific Group, comprising passenger airways Cathay Pacific and HK Categorical, has been progressively rebuilding its passenger flight capability and expects to renew 70 per cent of pre-pandemic passenger capability ranges, overlaying 80 locations by the tip of 2023.
Providers from Cathay Pacific’s residence hub of Hong Kong to Chicago and Johannesburg have not too long ago been introduced.
The Hong Kong flag service’s newest visitors figures additionally present continued enchancment.