(HONG KONG) Dragonair today celebrated the launch of its new scheduled service to Bengaluru (Bangalore) in India, with a ceremony held at Bengaluru International Airport following the arrival of the first flight.

The new destination is a milestone for Dragonair as it marks the first time for the airline to operate passenger flights to and from India. Dragonair is the only airline offering a scheduled nonstop service between Hong Kong and Bengaluru, with a daily service operated by an A330 aircraft.

"Dragonair has been looking at opportunities in the Indian market for many years, as we have long recognised the huge potential associated with this important, fast-growing country," said Dragonair General Manager Ground Services and International Affairs Algernon Yau, who officiated at the arrival ceremony.

"We at Dragonair see strong potential for both business and leisure travel to and from the IT hub of Bengaluru. Our new service offers travellers from the south of India convenient access to Hong Kong with good connections to Dragonair's extensive network in Mainland China and the worldwide network of our sister airline Cathay Pacific."

On behalf of Dragonair, Mr Yau thanked all of those involved in helping to make the launch of the Bengaluru service a success. "We are committed to continuing to provide high-quality products and services to make us the airline of choice in all the markets we serve, including India," he said.

To mark the service launch, passengers on the first flight to Bengaluru were handed a traditional Indian souvenir on arrival, while those departing for Hong Kong received a Chinese lucky charm. Officiating guests and operating crew on the first flights also received an Indian traditional scarf as souvenir courtesy of the Bengaluru International Airport Ltd.

Dragonair's schedule to and from Bengaluru is as follows:

Inaugural ceremony was held at Bengaluru International Airport to mark the launch of Dragonair's daily service to the city. Mr Albert Brunner, Chief Executive Officer, Bengaluru International Airport Ltd (second from left); Mr Algernon Yau, General Manager, Ground Services and International Affairs, Dragonair (third from left); Mr Tom Wright, General Manager, India, Middle East, Africa & Pakistan, Cathay Pacific (fourth from left) and other officiating guests

Dragonair, an affiliate member of oneworld, is a Hong Kong-based airline operating a fleet of 32 passenger aircraft and seven freighters serving 33 regional destinations, including 20 cities in Mainland China. 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