CATHAY PACIFIC EXPANDS CARGO NETWORK

CATHAY PACIFIC EXPANDS CARGO NETWORK

   Cathay Pacific Airways said it will add B747 freighter service from Hong Kong to San Francisco, New Delhi and Penang, Malaysia, in September, in time for the fall peak air-shipping season.

   Starting Sept. 1, Cathay will operate two flights a week between Hong Kong and San Francisco, three flights a week between Hong Kong and New Delhi, and one flight a week between Hong Kong and Penang. A second weekly flight to Penang will start Sept. 23.

   Cathay adds San Francisco to a U.S. freighter network that includes stops in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. “It was a logical choice for our first new North American all-cargo destination in four years,” said Scott Mowrer, Cathay’s vice president of the Americas.

   During the first half of this year, Cathay’s cargo services accounted for 28.6 percent of the airline’s total turnover, up from 27.3 percent last year. Cathay has orders outstanding for three B747-400 freighters for delivery in September, April and August next year.