Dragonair Welcomes Government's Approval of Third Runway Plan

Dragonair today welcomed the HKSAR Government's decision to approve in principle the Airport Authority Hong Kong's recommendation to adopt the three-runway option for planning purposes for Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). The airline fully supports the long-term development of HKIA and believes that a third runway will result in huge economic and social benefits for Hong Kong.

Dragonair Chief Executive Officer Patrick Yeung said: "The Government's in-principle approval to the building of a third runway at HKIA, as proposed by the Airport Authority, is a crucial step in enabling our airport to meet anticipated future growth and for Hong Kong to maintain its position as Asia's premier aviation hub.

"We believe that Hong Kong as a whole will benefit from the enhanced capacity in our home hub, further boosting the development of the aviation industry which makes such a significant contribution to the city's economy."

Mr Yeung said that Dragonair recently announced its own expansion plans in light of growing demand and rising passenger expectations, with additional aircraft joining the fleet, a strengthened network, enhanced products and services, and the recruitment of more cabin crew and pilots.

"The increase in capacity at HKIA will enable us to grow in parallel with the aviation industry in Hong Kong, helping to boost the prosperity and well-being of Hong Kong people in the long run," Mr Yeung added.

Dragonair, an affiliate member of oneworld, is a Hong Kong-based airline operating a fleet of 32 passenger aircraft and serving 33 regional destinations, including 17 cities in Mainland China. Dragonair has been recognised for its product and service quality, and was voted for two consecutive years "World's Best Regional Airline" in the annual World Airline Survey run by Skytrax in 2010 and 2011. Dragonair is part of the Cathay Pacific Group, providing seamless connectivity for passengers to more than 160 cities around the globe.

Dragonair web site address: www.dragonair.com