Dragonair today announced that it is relaunching scheduled services to Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, on December 2. Flights will operate four times a week using an Airbus A320 aircraft.

"We are delighted to be flying back to Kathmandu, a destination we first started serving in 1989," said Chief Executive Officer Kenny Tang. "As Nepal continues to grow in popularity with travellers from around the world, we have decided that this is the right time to resume services to this fascinating country."

As a member of the Cathay Pacific Group, Dragonair serves niche markets in Asia in addition to its core Mainland China market. Since the airline's integration into the Group, services have been launched to Phuket in Thailand and Busan in South Korea, with new operations to Fukuoka and Sendai in Japan commencing on October 28.

"Supported by Cathay Pacific's international network, these new Dragonair routes have been a big success, and I am confident our service to Kathmandu will be able to draw a considerable number of international tourists through the Hong Kong hub to travel to Nepal," said Mr. Tang.

The flight schedule, which is subject to government approval, is as follows:

Kathmandu houses many cultural and historical sights set against the spectacular backdrop of the Himalayan Mountains. Attractions include Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Swayambunath, also known as the "Monkey Temple", and the King's Palace. Kathmandu is also the starting point for numerous adventure holidays in Nepal including trekking and rafting.

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 six freighters serving 31 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