Dragonair signed an agreement with aircraft manufacturer Boeing for the purchase of a used 747-300 that will become the third aircraft in the airline's cargo fleet.
The combi aircraft, the first Dragonair has bought from Boeing, will be converted for all-cargo use by TAECO in Xiamen, China, and is scheduled to enter service at the end of this year.
"This deal with Boeing marks another milestone in the growth of Dragonair's ambitions in the cargo market," said Dragonair CEO Stanley Hui. "The fact that we are continuing to expand at this time is a clear demonstration of our commitment to the market and our customers."
"Boeing is extremely pleased that Dragonair has again shown its faith in the 747 Freighter. We believe the combination of this aircraft along with Dragonair's aggressive marketing efforts will continue to be a winner," said Yeh Huang, Vice President, Boeing International Corporation.
Dragonair's current fleet of two purchased Boeing 747-300s entered service in the second half of last year. They operate to Europe and the Middle East five times a week, and to Shanghai and Osaka twice weekly.
"This new freighter will allow us to increase capacity and frequencies, thereby making our service even more competitive," said Mr.
Hui.
Last year Dragonair's cargo operation posted a 46% jump in volume compared with 2000, with the airline carrying more than 121,214 tonnes of freight for the 12 months, despite the tough economic environment.
"The economic outlook for this year is probably at best uncertain, but China's economy will continue to grow on the back of domestic demand and the country's WTO membership, and we will serve that demand," Mr. Hui said.
Dragonair is a Hong Kong-based airline, operating a fleet of seven A330-300s, four A321s and eight A320s, in addition to two Boeing 747-300 freighters. The airline's passenger network covers 27 destinations across the Asia-Pacific region, while its cargo network connects the markets of Europe, the Middle East, Japan and China. |