Dragonair celebrated its 25th anniversary along with its resumption of services to Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport at a gala dinner in Shanghai on Tuesday (October 26). Marking another milestone in the airline's silver jubilee year, the gala event saw an impressive gathering of distinguished guests and friends of Dragonair, who toasted the airline's accomplishments and wished it continued success.

Dragonair's first flight departed Hong Kong for Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia 25 years ago when the airline operated just one aircraft. After two-and-a-half decades of hard work and commitment, the airline now owns a fleet of 31 passenger aircraft serving 30 destinations and was recently named "World's Best Regional Airline" by Skytrax.

Dragonair began regular charter flights between Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport and Hong Kong in 1988. The airline began flying again to Hongqiao with a daily service commencing on September 15, in addition to the 16 daily direct flights it currently offers between Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Hong Kong.

Officiating at the gala event in Shanghai were Dragonair Chairman Tony Tyler and Chief Executive Officer James Tong, together with Chief Pilot of East China Regional Administration of CAAC Mr Zhu Zhoulong, Vice Chairman of Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration Ms Connie Cheng Mei-hong, and Director of HK Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai Government of the HK Special Administrative Region Mr Patrick Chan. More than 200 guests, including government officials and aviation and travel trade partners, were in attendance.

Mr Tyler said: "Dragonair was a much smaller airline in 1985, but it has grown in leaps and bounds over the past quarter of the century. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire Dragonair team who worked so hard to make the airline what it is today. And, of course, heartfelt thanks go to all our loyal customers and partners in the travel trade who have been with Dragonair all the way over the past 25 years."

The resumption of flights between Hongqiao and Hong Kong makes Dragonair's silver jubilee even more momentous, Mr Tyler added.

"We are delighted to be now flying into both of Shanghai's international airports. Our sincere thanks go to the Mainland and the HKSAR Government for their efforts in putting in place the arrangement, enabling us to provide a huge selection of options for travellers and help strengthen the business and tourism ties that link these two great cities," he said.

"We have great confidence in the Mainland market and will continue to explore opportunities to further develop travel links between the Mainland and the rest of the world through our fabulous hub in Hong Kong."

The officiating guests joined the Dragonair management team to make a toast to
Dragonair's continued success.
(From left: Dragonair Manager Eastern China Wilson Yam, Dragonair General Manager
China Sam Swire, Director of HK Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai Government
of the HK Special Administrative Region Mr Patrick Chan, Chief Pilot of East China
Regional Administration of CAAC Mr Zhu Zhoulong, Dragonair Chairman Tony Tyler,
Vice Chairman of Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration Ms Connie Cheng Mei-hong,
Dragonair Chief Executive Officer James Tong, Dragonair General Manager Operations Captain
Peter Sanderson.)

Dragonair Chairman Tony Tyler (middle), Chief Executive Officer James Tong (first from right),
together with Chief Pilot of East China Regional Administration of CAAC Mr Zhu Zhoulong
(second from left), Vice Chairman of Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration Ms Connie
Cheng Mei-hong (second from right), and Director of HK Economic and Trade Office in
Shanghai Government of the HK Special Administrative Region Mr Patrick Chan (first from left)
officiate at the kick-off ceremony.

Dragonair, an affiliate member of oneworld, is a Hong Kong-based airline operating a fleet of 31 passenger aircraft and serving 30 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 110 cities around the globe.

Dragonair website: www.dragonair.com