Cathay Pacific and Dragonair shake off debilitating effects of SARS virus and seek more cargo and passenger aircraft
Hong Kong's main airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways and Dragonair, are planning expansions of their passenger and cargo fleets as demand continues to return strongly after last year's SARS-induced downturn.
Cathay is nearing orders for up to nine additional Airbus A330-300s and/or Boeing 777-300s, in addition to working on deals for more than a dozen used Boeing 747-400s, some of which would be converted into SF special freighters.
Dragonair is meanwhile looking to expand its narrowbody fleet after agreeing to lease six more A330-300s from International Lease Finance, while seeking to add four 747-400SFs in 2006 and 2007.
Cathay's corporate development director, Tony Tyler, says the twinjet orders are likely in the coming weeks, as are purchases of used 747-400s. Up to 15 747-400s are being sought, likely Pratt & Whitney-powered examples, possibly from Singapore Airlines and United Airlines.
"For the regional aircraft, we'll be able to come up with something fairly soon," Tyler says, adding that Cathay is looking at deliveries between 2005 and 2007. It currently operates A330s and 777s.
The carrier is looking at adding the used 747-400s between 2005 and 2007. Cathay in January was named launch customer for Boeing's 747-400SF programme.
Cathay is assessing long-haul requirements, although Tyler says it is not likely to place orders for 777-200LR/300ERs or Airbus A340-500/600s any time soon. It already operates A340-600s, but these are on lease.
The same applies to the Airbus A380, says Tyler. "It looks a very interesting aircraft and we haven't ruled it out at all," he says. "But we don't particularly wish to be one of the early customers of that aircraft."
Boeing has also been proposing its 7E7 and Tyler says that, while the airline is "interested in the technology", the aircraft appears too small for its requirements.
Dragonair chief executive Stanley Hui says additional A320-family commitments are likely within six months, either on lease or purchase arrangements. The aircraft would be used on services to secondary destinations in China.
NICHOLAS IONIDES / HONG KONG
Source: Flight International
