Cathay set to fly with world’s most advanced airliner
PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 09 February, 2016, 7:01am
UPDATED : Tuesday, 09 February, 2016, 10:31am
Danny Lee
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Cathay will take one of the most advance airliners on it debut flight to Manila in May. (Boeing 777-300ER pictured). Photo: Jonathan Wong
Cathay Pacific’s HK$124 billion outlay on 48 of one the world’s most advanced airliners - the Airbus A350 - will go live on May 1 with a flight to Manila.
Flight 901 to Philippines capital will take-off at 9am and return for Hong Kong at 12.25pm, according to Airline Route, which monitors global airline schedules.
The same aircraft will later fly to Taipei at 4.15pm, and return to the city for 7.30pm.
The Hong Kong airline has scheduled the Airbus A350 aircraft - which Cathay say will enhance fuel economy and offer more comfort for the 280 passengers it can carry - to operate flights later in the summer to Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City from July 1.
A CGI mock up of an Airbus A350 with Cathay Pacific Airways colours from 2010 when the airline ordered the new airbus. Photo: EPA
Cathay will schedule the new jet for the first couple of months on regional destinations to smooth out any kinks and familiarise cabin crew with the airliner.
Some 48 models of the fuel-efficient jetliner will be delivered to Cathay Pacific, with 12 set to arrive this year. Hong Kong Airlines will take delivery of the first of 15 jets from 2018.
Cathay was originally planned to take delivery of the jets this month, however, its seat supplier has suffered manufacturing issues making seats for a host of airlines, delaying a number of aircraft deliveries.
However, Hong Kong’s connectivity to the world is likely to expand by the end of the decade thanks to the A350, which operates with much lower operating costs. The aircraft will allow both airlines to expand to cities and countries that might not otherwise be profitable for the airlines with a Boeing 777 being too big or the Airbus A330 plane with not enough range to fly long distances.
Cathay has confirmed it will operate its first long-haul flight to London Gatwick airport with the new aircraft type on September 2.
