(HONG KONG) Dragonair yesterday celebrated the launch of scheduled services to two new destinations in Japan: Fukuoka and Sendai. The route launches will serve to further strengthen links between Hong Kong and Japan, with Dragonair the only airline to offer scheduled services between Hong Kong and Sendai and the only airline to offer non-stop scheduled flights between Fukuoka and Hong Kong.

Ceremonies were held at Fukuoka International Airport yesterday and Sendai International Airport today to mark the latest development for the airline and welcome passengers from the two cities for the first flights to Hong Kong.

"We are particularly delighted to expand our presence in Japan - a country that remains one of the most popular holiday destinations for tourists from Hong Kong," said Dragonair's General Manager Ground Services Algernon Yau, who represented the airline at both ceremonies. "At the same time, the new services will help strengthen Hong Kong's role as an international aviation hub, enabling passengers from different regions in Japan to connect through Hong Kong onto the extensive networks of Dragonair and our sister airline Cathay Pacific."

"On behalf of Dragonair, I would like to thank all of those involved in helping to make our launch here today a reality - and a success," said Mr Yau. "We will continue to commit to further strengthening our network and providing high quality products and services to make us the 'airline of choice' in the markets we serve."

To mark the service launches, Dragonair gave a special souvenir to passengers on the first flights. In addition, passengers on the first flight to Fukuoka received a gift pack from the Fukuoka Prefecture Government while the Miyagi Prefecture Government in Sendai also handed out gifts to welcome those on the first flight to the city.

Fukuoka and Sendai are the third and fourth new destinations added to the Dragonair network since the airline became a member of the Cathay Pacific Group last year. Flights to Fukuoka operate daily and to Sendai three times a week, using Airbus A321 and Airbus A320 aircraft respectively.

Fukuoka (FUK)

Sendai (SDJ)

A ceremony was held at Fukuoka International Airport to mark the launch of Dragonair's Fukuoka service. From left: Officiating guests President, Fukuoka Airport Building Co., Ltd., Tomokazu Odahara; Airport Administrator, Fukuoka Airport Office, Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, Shinichi Nakatani; Director General, Airport Planning Bureau, Fukuoka Prefecture, Noriaki Nishimura; Marketing & Sales Manager, Japan, Cathay Pacific Airways, Stephen Wong; General Manager, Ground Services, Dragonair, Algernon Yau; Chief Executive, Economic Promotion Bureau, Fukuoka City, Masamitsu Watanabe; Executive Director, Fukuoka Chamber of Commerce, Hiroshi Hashimoto; and Executive Director, Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organisation, Hideo Oe, with Dragonair's crew and ambassadors from Fukuoka.

A ceremony was held at Sendai International Airport to mark the launch of Dragonair's Sendai service. From left, Chairman, Miyagi Japan Hong Kong Society, Shigeru Sasaki; Mayor, City of Iwanuma, Tsuneaki Iguchi; Regional Director - North Asia, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Kunio Kano; Deputy Mayor, City of Sendai, Shuji Kasahara; Marketing & Sales Manager, Japan, Cathay Pacific Airways, Stephen Wong; Vice Governor, Miyagi Prefecture, Katsuhiko Ito; General Manager, Ground Services, Dragonair, Algernon Yau; Chairman, Committee for Promotion and Development of Sendai International Airport, Chugo Marumori; Airport Service Manager, Narita International Airport Corporation, Masanori Shimizu; Sendai Airport Administrator, Sendai Airport Office, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Tokyo Regional Civil Aviation Bureau, Yukio Yoshida; President, Sendai Airport Terminal Corporation Ltd., Masahide Kakizaki; Mayor, City of Natori, Isoo Sasaki; and Secretary General, Japan Association of Travel Agents, Tsuneo Ono.

Dragonair, which will become an affiliate member of oneworld on November 1, is a Hong Kong-based airline operating a fleet of 31 passenger aircraft and seven freighters serving 33 regional destinations, including 21 cities in Mainland China. The airline has topped the "Best Airline - China" category in the respected Skytrax passenger survey for the past six years, highlighting its Mainland China expertise. Dragonair is part of the Cathay Pacific Group, providing seamless connectivity for passengers to more than 100 cities around the globe.

Dragonair web site address: www.dragonair.com