(HONG KONG) Dragonair today welcomed the announcement by the HKSAR Government that Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai will be added as a destination for scheduled air services between the mainland of China and Hong Kong.

The arrangement was a result of consultation between the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the Transport and Housing Bureau of the HKSAR Government.

The airline believes the arrangement will further boost air traffic between the two cities and benefit travellers going to and from the Yangtze River Delta area.

Dragonair Chief Executive Officer James Tong said: "Shanghai is a major destination for Dragonair. By opening Hongqiao Airport for scheduled services, travellers will benefit from its more convenient location due to the airport's proximity to downtown Shanghai. Hongqiao also has direct links to the high-speed railway and other land transport which help facilitate travel between the airport and the nearby Yangtze River Delta area.

"The decision will help enhance Hong Kong's position as a gateway into the mainland of China," Mr Tong added.

Dragonair started operating chartered flights to Shanghai in 1988. The airline currently has 16 daily flights from Hong Kong to Shanghai Pudong, three of which are codeshare services operated by sister airline Cathay Pacific.

Dragonair, an affiliate member of oneworld, is a Hong Kong-based airline operating a fleet of 31 passenger aircraft and serving 29 regional destinations, including 17 cities in Mainland China. Dragonair has been recognised for its product and service quality, and was voted "World's Best Regional Airline" in the annual World Airline Survey run by Skytrax in 2010. 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