Cathay Pacific, which has 4 times won World’s Best Airline award, will begin operating four weekly flights to Hong Kong and back as of March 2017.

By Ilan Gattegno

Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific, considered one of the best in the world, will begin operating direct flights from Hong Kong to Tel Aviv as of March 2017.

Cathay Pacific Tel Aviv-Hong Kong line will further increase competition over Far East flights – Photo: Courtesy

The route is awaiting government approval, but once the license is granted, it will begin with four weekly flights from Ben-Gurion International Airport to Hong Kong International Airport, using the advanced Airbus 350-900 planes recently purchased by the airline.

“Cathay Pacific believes that traveling well is an important part of living well, and passengers can be assured of a superior experience onboard the Airbus A350. The environmentally friendly aircraft is equipped with the airline’s latest cabin products, an enhanced in-flight entertainment system and Wi-Fi,” the airline said in a statement.

Cathay Pacific was founded in 1946 and is a member of the Oneworld airline alliance, which also includes top carriers American Airlines and British Airways. It has won the World’s Best Airline award four times, more than any other airline in the world.

Direct flights to Hong Kong are currently operated exclusively by Israel’s El Al and introducing a new line is expected to increase competition over flights to the Far East, especially as China’s Hainan Airlines recently launched direct flights from Israel to Beijing.

The new Cathay Pacific line will also provide easy and fast access to connection flights to numerous Far East countries, such as China and Japan, but also Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

Hong Kong – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

Dragon Air, a subsidiary of Cathay Pacific, is offering 53 destinations throughout Asia, including 23 in China.

“We are excited to be launching a direct link to Tel Aviv, which has established itself as a culturally rich and technologically-advanced business capital. As an important market in the Belt and Road initiative, Israel offers tremendous potential for business and leisure travel,” Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Ivan Chu said.

“Together with the recent launch of our Madrid and Gatwick operations, this new service to Tel Aviv reflects our commitment to growing the Cathay Pacific network and further strengthening Hong Kong’s position as one of the world’s great international aviation hubs,” he said.

View original Israel Hayom publication at:
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=37439