Cathay Pacific Airways today announced that it will start operating to Moscow on 13 July with three flights a week departing Hong Kong every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, subject to government approval. The airline announced its plan to fly to the Russian capital about a month ago.

Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Tony Tyler said: "We are pleased that things are moving quickly, enabling us to start the new service in the summer as planned. There has been a big increase in the number of travellers between the HKSAR and the Russian Federation since visa-free arrangements were introduced last year, and our new service will accelerate the development of ties between the two places."

The Moscow service will be the second new destination to be launched by the airline this year and will become the 48th online passenger destination in its global network. The new four-times-weekly service to Milan, which launches on 28 March, has already had a positive reception from the market.

The current Code-Share arrangement between Cathay Pacific and Aeroflot on the latter's flights between Hong Kong and Moscow will cease on 28 March 2010. Alternative arrangements for Cathay Pacific ticket holders have already been made.

In addition to the launch of more new destinations, Cathay Pacific will strengthen its services to three more destinations - Paris, Singapore and Bali - in addition to the service enhancements to Toronto, Los Angeles, Jeddah and Seoul already announced. Details of the latest enhancements are as follows:

• Paris - three flights a week added for July and August 2010


• Singapore - four flights a week added in June and July 2010, becoming an additional daily flight from August 2010


• Bali - four flights a week added in July and August 2010

MOSCOW
-   Thrice-weekly service
-   Flights begin on 13 July 2010
-   Aircraft type: Airbus A340-300

PARIS
-   Three more flights added, making a total of 10 flights a week in July and August 2010 to meet high demand over the summer.
-   Aircraft type: Boeing 747-400

SINGAPORE
-   Four more flights added in June and July 2010
-   Daily starting from August 2010, making a total of 49 flights a week
-   Aircraft type: Boeing 777-200/Airbus A340-300/Airbus A330-300

BALI
-   Four more flights added in July and August 2010 to meet high demand over the summer.
-   Aircraft type: Airbus A330-300