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| New Australian airline takes off for regional hub ( 25/11/2002 ) | |||||||||
"Australian Airlines has selected Hong Kong as one of the key routes in our first phase of operation as we believe that Hong Kong plays a critical role as a regional hub for the Asia-Pacific," said Australian Airlines CEO Denis Adams at an inauguration ceremony at Hong Kong International Airport on November 22. Australian Airlines, a subsidiary of Qantas Airways, offers full on-board services, including free meals and in-flight entertainment, in an all-economy class cabin on its Boeing 767 aircraft. "By focusing only on leisure travellers and having just a single all-economy configuration, we have been able to reduce our costs compared with Qantas by between 25 and 30 per cent," Mr Adams said. The three weekly return flights are just a start, he added. "We think there is a significant opportunity to grow travel between Hong Kong and Cairns and the Gold Coast." Dr David Pang, CEO of the Hong Kong Airport Authority, described the Australian Airlines service as a welcome addition to Hong Kong's air network. "We also appreciate that Australian Airlines recognises the importance of Hong Kong as a regional hub and a gateway to mainland China, one of Australia's fastest growing sources of tourists," he said.
Hong Kong International Airport is a truly multi-modal transportation centre with road, ferry and helicopter services to the booming Pearl River Delta region of south China, Dr Pang added. Australian Airlines is the 75th carrier to operate services to Hong Kong, according Albert Lam, director-general of the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department. "Traffic between Hong Kong and Australia in 1997 was just over one million, and this year it is about 1.2 million, representing a very healthy and robust growth," Mr Lam said.
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