HKG | Hong Kong International Airport

[hala]

from http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5829865 by Colin Parker

CR Airway's newest aircraft, and unlike the other two 737s operated by them, this one is mainly white. Delivered with white winglets, a new logo has now appeared on them. it is the logo of Great China Airways, the new name for the Hainan Airlines grouping. Although CR Airways will retain it's name, it seems that it will adopt the scheme of Great China. Perhaps this will be the first aircraft to carry the scheme!

[hala]

This is what I found:

The company is actually called “Grand China Airlines Group”.
Seems like both Hainan Airlines and Grand China Airlines will be sharing the same new logo. Because CR was taken over by Hainan Airlines, the new Hongkong Air’s logo will partial adopted from its mother company, which makes the monster like flower design that people dislike about.

[hkskyline]

Now that Oasis Hong Kong Airlines has begun low-cost flights between London and Hong Kong ...
By ROGER COLLIS
29 October 2006
The New York Times

Now that Oasis Hong Kong Airlines has begun low-cost flights between London and Hong Kong, is Hong Kong a good jumping-off point for low-cost travel in Southeast Asia? Is there some kind of pass for flights between Hong Kong and Bangkok, Shanghai, Seoul or Tokyo? What is the best way to travel cheaply by air in this region? -- Susan Alloun, Montreux, Switzerland

Oasis Hong Kong Airlines ( www.oasis-air.com ) is starting to fly four times a week from London Gatwick to Hong Kong with introductory one-way economy fares from $:75 (about $143 at $1.90 to the pound) and one-way business class fares of $:470 -- competing with British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Virgin Atlantic on the route. I found a one-way economy fare for Nov. 5 at that $:75 and a business-class fare of $:470. The lowest one-way economy fare I could find on British Air for that date was a whopping $:756, and the cheapest one-way business-class fare was $:3,559.

But if you are planning to make several stops in Southeast Asia, your best bet may be to fly to Hong Kong with British Airways or Cathay Pacific, both Oneworld carriers (along with Aer Lingus, American Airlines, Finnair, Iberia and LAN), allowing you to buy a Oneworld Visit Asia pass. This will enable you to visit Bangkok, Beijing, Cebu, Denpasar, Fukuoka, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Mumbai, Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo and Xiamen. You can take 2 to 20 flights, and need only book the first sector in advance. There is a flat rate for each flight. For example, out of Hong Kong: to Bangkok, $145; to Singapore, $185; and to Tokyo, $260. Get details at www.oneworld.com .

The Star Alliance Asian Airpass ( www.star-alliance.com ) allows you to buy three to six coupons ($59 to $270, depending on distance flown). The pass is valid on Singapore Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Thai, United Airlines and Lufthansa, and must be bought in conjunction with travel to Asia on a Star Alliance carrier.

Another option is to shop for regional deals at Zuji ( www.zuji.com ), a travel site operated by Travelocity that offers flights from Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand. Other useful sites include www.thaifly.com in Bangkok, a good source of discounted flights and hotels; and www.travel.com.au , an Australian site with a great selection of airline deals around Asia Pacific. The Web site www.smarttravelasia.com will help you find some of the proliferating low-cost Asia-Pacific airlines.

[hala]

CR will officially be renamed as Hong Kong Airlines on November 28th, and it’s planning to purchase 30 more aircrafts, including 20 737’s and 10 787’s.

中富擬添30客機 辦倫敦線 月底改名香港航空 機隊規模直逼港龍

中富航空獲內地四大航空之一海南航空入股45％後，將正名為「香港航空」，以提供中低價機票為定位，並會大規模擴充業務。消息說，海航已購入20架波音737及10架787，可供中富運用，最快明年開辦香港往倫敦(相關新聞 - 網站)航線。增加30架客機後，中富規模直逼擁有29架客機的港龍。有了海航在背後支持，意味本港不再由國泰（0293）「獨霸天空」。

中富董事局消息指出，該公司已獲准改名為「香港航空」（下稱港航），並於本月28日舉行典禮，有機會邀得中央主理港事務的領導人來港主禮。消息指，海航耗資約150億元，購買30架全新客機，可供在港航使用。據了解，海航作為港航主要股東，可以把客機及機組人員租給港航。海航於海南島，設有自己的機師及空中服務員培訓基地。

海航入股後 支持大增

港航目前往內地的航點有7個，其網站稱，2006年冬季及07年春季計劃開通航線往大連、武漢、上海、北京等，國外航點仍是零，最新消息是剛獲批飛往韓國的大丘，地點鄰近釜山。消息指出，最快明年開辦往倫敦的航線。

對於明年開辦來往香港至倫敦航班服務，以及購置飛機、增聘人員等事宜，港航董事長任衛東接受本報記者查詢時未有加以否認，只表示一切計劃尚在研究。「所有計劃在落實之前，我們都會不斷修改及完善，有消息一定會公布。」

事實上，港航高級顧問歐鏡源早已表明開辦往歐洲及其他東南亞地區航線是集團明年的目標。而歐昨天接受查詢時又指出，於長程機方面，公司去年底與波音簽訂購買備忘錄當中的10架787波音飛機最快要至2009年才能付運，故集團目前研究引入的長程機種亦包括波音777，以及空中巴士的長程機系列等。

不過有港航管理層指出，集團明年付運的機種主要以737-800及若干中程機為主，長程客機未必能趕及明年付運，故能否開辦倫敦航線要視乎機隊的擴展進度。

海航未來會以香港為內地轉飛海外的樞紐，「壯大」港航，即可配合策略。據悉，海航發展方向獲中央支持。海航亦將重組及改名，計劃明年來港以H股上市集資。

海航重組後擬明年H股集資

現時香港與英國之間的航空協議，對兩地之間的航班沒有任何限制，所以若港航想申請開辦倫敦線，問題應不大，但須向空運牌照局正式申請牌照，及向港府申請航點。消息說現時港府的政策，一般都會支持有更多競爭。現時本港已有國泰及甘泉兩家公司開辦倫敦線。

[hkskyline]

Did CR ever resolve the issue with ownership, because its partnership with Hainan may disqualify it from being a Hong Kong carrier and enjoying the air pacts that Hong Kong has negotiated with other countries.

[Kaitak747]

Originally Posted by hkskyline

Did CR ever resolve the issue with ownership, because its partnership with Hainan may disqualify it from being a Hong Kong carrier and enjoying the air pacts that Hong Kong has negotiated with other countries.

As far as I know, CR has fixed it.

[hkskyline]

Shanghai Airlines to start flights to Hong Kong

SHANGHAI, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Shanghai Airlines Co. Ltd. said on Tuesday it would start operating daily flights between Shanghai and Hong Kong, joining only two other airlines on one of China's busiest and most lucrative routes.

The carrier has obtained regulatory approval and will schedule three return flights daily to Hong Kong from Nov. 28, an airline official said.

The route is now flown by China Eastern Airlines and Dragonair, which run 13 and 16 flights per day. Cathay Pacific Airways , which has agreed to take over Dragonair, has also obtained approval to fly the route.

A senior China Eastern executive said the route was among its most lucrative ones, with an annual load factor topping 80 percent.

Shanghai Airlines, which aims to double its fleet size in four years to roughly 100 planes, may bring in foreign strategic investors to help fund the expansion, chairman Zhou Chi told Reuters in May.

[dicksonlai]

Passenger Traffic Sees Strong Growth in October

(HONG KONG, 19 November 2006) - Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) experienced another busy month in October, as passenger and cargo traffic continued to rise.

Passenger volume increased 8.5% from the same period last year, to 3.9 million. Cargo throughput grew 3.4%, to 329,000 tonnes, indicating a strong start for the fourth quarter. Aircraft movements rose 3.4%, to 24,500.

For the 12 months ended October 31, passenger volume grew 8.7%, to 43.8 million. Cargo throughput and aircraft movements rose 5.9% and 8%, to 3.5 million tonnes and 279,000, respectively.

Airport Management Director Howard Eng said, "Origin, destination and transfer traffic experienced healthy growth in October, fuelled by buoyant regional demand. The persistent growth over the last 10 months gives us a strong base for another record-breaking year."

HKIA is committed to enhancing Hong Kong's status as a major international and regional aviation hub by introducing more choices for passengers, shippers and business partners. HKIA is pleased to welcome Oasis Hong Kong Airlines, the ninth new airline to begin serving Hong Kong this year. The fifth Hong Kong-based carrier and the world's first long-haul budget airline, Oasis began serving the Hong Kong-London route in October.

[hkth]

A380 visits HK!
From news.gov.hk:
A380 superjumbo lands in HK

[hkskyline]

Hong Kong's Dragonair adds Korean Busan to destination list

HONG KONG, Nov 20, 2006 (AFP) - Hong Kong airline Dragonair will next year add Busan in South Korea to its growing list of destinations, the company said in a statement Monday.

The Cathay Pacific-owned carrier will fly A320 aircraft three times a week -- on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays -- between the southern Chinese city and South Korea's second metropolis, starting from January 19.

"Given that the city is a major marine and logistics hub, we believe the launch of regular services will benefit both business and leisure travellers," Dragonair chief executive Kenny Tang said in the statement.

[hkth]

From news.gov.hk:
HK, Mexico sign air services pact

[hkth]

From news.gov.hk:
Airport passenger traffic up 8.5%

[hkskyline]

China Air bearish on HK freight
Alman Loong
27 November 2006
Hong Kong Standard

Taiwanese carrier China Airlines sees competition across the border clouding the outlook for Hong Kong's airfreight business, especially once airports in southern China resume direct links with Taiwan.

China Airlines is the world's fifth largest air cargo carrier in terms of freight ton kilometers flown, data for 2005 from the International Air Transport Association show. Korea Air, Deutsche Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific are the top four, according to 2005 rankings by IATA.

China Airlines general manager (Hong Kong) Michael Wu said: ``Hong Kong International Airport is facing a significant threat to its cargo business from Guangzhou's new Baiyun airport. If Guangzhou strengthens its facilities, such as customs and capacity, Hong Kong would lose its advantage after three to five years.''

At Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminal, cargo growth in 2005 was 7.5 percent, down 5.1 percentage points from 12.6 percent in 2004.

``We've got to face reality that there will be an impact if direct flights between China and Taiwan resume. We have no idea what the impact might be because it depends on how many direct flights there are,'' Wu said.

He also objects to the third self- operated air cargo facility proposed by Cathay Pacific (0293), considering slow air cargo growth and overcapacity.

He said China Airlines intends to tie up with other mainland carriers through a special prorate agreement to avoid losing market share.

``We plan to sign more agreements with other airlines such as CR Airways, HK Express, Shenzhen Airways, or even Hainan Airlines, to tap their network to secondary cities like Changsha,'' Wu said.

A special prorate agreement is a ticket discount offer from airlines to others aimed at increasing passenger volumes.

China Airlines has experience working with mainland carriers.

``We collaborate with three major airline groups in China, with respect to code-sharing,'' Wu said. Between 500,000 and 600,000 people fly from Hong Kong to Taiwan every year. China Airlines operates 17 flights from Hong Kong to Taiwan every day. The load factor is about 80 percent. China Airlines accounts for between 30 percent and 35 percent market share on the Hong Kong-Taiwan route and 50 percent to 53 percent on the Hong Kong-Kaohsiung route.

Wu expects the next round of negotiations between Hong Kong and Taiwan, due in the first half of next year, will pave the way for a rearrangement of cargo capacity on the route.

``Our cargo business increased 10 to 15 percent in the first 10 months of the year, better than the overall Hong Kong market. We should ask for more capacity in the next round of talks,'' Wu suggested.

[hkskyline]

Air space problems push up fuel use
Changes to long arrival and departure procedures would mean big savings, says association
27 November 2006
South China Morning Post

At least 84,000 tonnes of jet fuel - which creates 250,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions - could be saved every year if aviation authorities changed arrival and departure procedures at Hong Kong's airport, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Congestion over the Pearl River Delta - which has the Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Macau airports - forces aircraft to fly at higher altitudes and travel longer distances than would be the case if use of the air space were rationalised.

"Current airspace is very restrictive and requires extremely high altitude restrictions. This leads to lengthy arrival and departure procedures," an association report says.

It estimates that flights entering Hong Kong are required to travel an extra 140 nautical miles and flights leaving the city an extra 60 nautical miles.

A source familiar with the issue said this was largely a consequence of the Chinese military's air control zone over the region, which creates an invisible wall for civil aviation.

The association has tabled a proposal to the Hong Kong authorities to revise existing procedures, which could save 84,000 tonnes of fuel and up to 8,850 hours of flying time a year.

The amount of fuel saved would be equivalent to 118,500 cars travelling 10,000km a year. Carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced by 250,000 tonnes a year, the report estimates.

A Civil Aviation Department spokesman said Macau, Hong Kong and mainland authorities had met twice this year to discuss air space problems, but no concrete measures had been formulated or implemented so far.

To combat climate change, Cathay Pacific Airways is now considering following a British Airways initiative to invite passengers to buy credits to offset carbon dioxide emissions, Cathay's environmental manager, Linden Coppell, said.

Under the scheme, passengers are asked to calculate and pay a share of the cost of neutralising the impact of those emissions.

It is estimated that a flight between Heathrow and Hong Kong generates 2.18 tonnes per passenger and costs US$29.54 to offset.

A spokesman for BA in Britain said that so far less than 1 per cent of their passengers had taken up the offset option. "Progress with the scheme has been steady so far, which is not unusual with a new, voluntary scheme. We will continue to build awareness about the initiative," he said.

BA has joined emission trading schemes in Britain and supports the inclusion of the aviation industry in the European carbon-trading scheme.

[hkth]

From news.gov.hk:
Airport invests $1b in SkyPier project

[hkth]

Gov't Press Release:
LCQ8: Delay in taking off or landing of flights

[dicksonlai]

Airport Authority Hong Kong Announces Interim Results


(Hong Kong, 29 November 2006) - In its first interim results announcment, Airport Authority Hong Kong today revealed strong growth in turnover and profit attributable to shareholder for the six months ended 30 September 2006. The unaudited results, which were approved by the Airport Authority's Board of Directors, also included solid growth in passenger and cargo throughput.

Compared with the six months ended 30 September 2005, turnover rose 9.2%, to HK$3,814 million, EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) increased 9.6%, to $2,394 million, and profit attributable to shareholder grew 13.2%, to $993 million. Total passenger volume rose 9.2%, to 22.7 million, cargo throughput grew 3.5%, to around 1.8 million tonnes, and aircraft movements increased 6.0%, to 140,700.

"During the period, we achieved a breakthrough on the Mainland with the conclusion of a joint venture with the Zhuhai Municipal Government that will see us manage Zhuhai Airport for 20 years. By making the Airport Authority an insider in the Mainland aviation system, the agreement is also a key step in our long-term strategy of supporting the coordinated development of a Pearl River Delta (PRD) airport system so as to better serve the PRD region," observed Airport Authority Chief Executive Officer, Dr David J Pang.

Three new cargo carriers-Volga-Dnepr Airlines, Royal Khmer Airlines and ACT Airlines -and one passenger airline, Air Niugini, began serving Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) during the period, boosting the total number of airlines operating at HKIA to 85. A total of 5 new destinations, including Taichung, Chiang Mai, Krasnoyarsk, Port Moresby and Stockholm, were added to HKIA's network, bringing the total to around 150.

Today's announcement marks the first time the Airport Authority has released interim results. Finance Director Raymond Lai said, "The Airport Authority is committed to delivering timely, accurate and useful information to our stakeholders. Today's announcement reflects our commitment to good corporate governance, transparency and financial discipline."

Mr Lai added that he expects the six months ended 31 March 2007 will see increased operating expenses with the phased opening of HKIA's Terminal 2/SkyPlaza, which is scheduled to begin in early 2007.


The interim financial results have not been audited but have been reviewed by independent auditors before being approved by the Airport Authority's Board of Directors.

To view the AA's Interim Report, please go to http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/a...terim/2006.pdf

[hkskyline]

Hong Kong aviation authority OKs cuts in fuel surcharges by 13 airlines
22 November 2006

HONG KONG (AP) - Hong Kong's civil aviation authority said Wednesday it approved applications by Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. and 12 other airlines to reduce their fuel surcharges by 3 percent beginning December as crude oil prices continue to decline.

The revised charges will continue to allow Hong Kong's dominant carrier and the other airlines to collect fuel surcharges from their passengers until the end of January, the Civil Aviation Department said.

The CAD, which reviews fuel surcharge applications for airlines flying into Hong Kong every two months, said that apart from Cathay, it also approved the requests to extend the charges from the airline's Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Ltd. unit, and from other airlines including mainland carriers Air China Ltd., China Southern Airlines Co. and China Eastern Airlines Corp.

Most airlines kept their surcharges unchanged between August and November.

From Dec. 1, Cathay Pacific will charge HK$113 (US$15; euro11) per passenger on short-haul routes, down from HK$117 in the previous two-month period, and HK$466 (US$60; euro47) per passenger on long-haul segments, down from HK$481.

Other airlines that have applied to extend the fees will also be charging their passengers a similar surcharge.

The rates are still considerably higher than they were in May, when most airlines charged HK$90 on short-haul routes and HK$370 on long-haul segments. Crude oil prices were around US$72 a barrel then, but have now fall to around US$60 a barrel.

Cathay Pacific has said jet fuel accounts for more than a third of its operating costs, which have taken a toll on the company's profitability.

[hkth]

From news.gov.hk:
Aviation seminar opens

[Kaitak747]