It seems Cathay Pacific is going to be adding a new route – one that has interesting possibilities – with the addition of Dublin, Copenhagen and Brussels to its network.
Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 – Image, Cathay Pacific
There’s three major new routes here. Let’s look at Dublin first.
The new route will spin up in with a four times a week service between Hong Kong International and Dublin Airport. It marks the first airline to attempt the Dublin-Asia/Pacific direct route.
Planned operation will attempt to look like this:
Summer Operation
CX306 DEPART DUB 11:55 ARRIVE HKG 07:05+1 Monday, Wednesdays, Thursdays Saturdays CX307 DEPART HKG 00:50 ARRIVE DUB 06:45 Monday, Wednesdays, Thursdays Saturdays
Winter Operation
CX306 DEPART DUB 11:00 ARRIVE HKG 07:30+1 Monday, Wednesdays, Thursdays Saturdays CX307DEPART HKG 00:15 ARRIVE DUB 05:30 Monday, Wednesdays, Thursdays Saturdays Commences 2nd June 2018 Booked Equipment: Airbus A350-900 (Three Class) Data: Dublin Airport/RoutesOnline
Brussels joins the network too, who gain a four-times a week service between Hong Kong and capital of Belgium. Like the Dublin route, this will be a year-round service.
The planned operation looks like this
CX339 DEPART HKG 00:35 ARRIVE BRU 06:55 Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays CX338 DEPART BRU 13:10 ARRIVE HKG 06:55+1 Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays Commences 27th March 2018 Booked Equipment: Airbus A350-900 (Three Class) Data: RoutesOnline
Copenhagen will gain a seasonal summer service for those who want to visit Denmark or travel direct to the Fragrant Harbour over the summer months in 2018. The planned operation will give a three-times a week service between two cities.
CX226 DEPART CPH 13:55 ARRIVE HKG 06:35+1 Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays CX227 DEPART HKG 01:10 ARRIVE CPH 06:30 Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays Commences 2nd May 2018 through to 12th October 2018 Booked Equipment: Airbus A350-900 (Three Class) Data: RoutesOnline
Timings on all flights make for good connections in Asia and beyond at Hong Kong International. Similarly, the arrival times at Brussels, Dublin and Copenhagen will allow for easy connection to early banks of flights from these airports.
Dublin Airport is especially happy, with Managing Director Vincent Harrison stating
“Dublin Airport is competing for routes like this with other major European airports, so winning this new business is hugely positive news for Ireland, for foreign direct investment, for Irish exporters, and for inbound tourism,” he added.
“This historic new route brings direct flights from Ireland to Hong Kong for the first time and also offers excellent onward connections via Cathay Pacific’s Hong Kong hub,”
Cathay Pacific operate their Airbus A350-900s in a 3-Class configurations, split by:
- 38 Business Class Seats in a 1-2-1 configuration
- 28 Premium Economy Seats 2-4-2 configuration
- 214 Economy Seats in a 3-3-3 configuration
Some valuable direct routes are opening up here – with some decent lines and connectivity. The trick will be to convert these 4 times a week routes into a full daily operation and larger if the traffic flows exist.
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