Cathay Pacific Airways officially launched its new service to Karachi today with an inaugural flight departing from Hong Kong International Airport at 3:50pm. The flight is expected to land in Karachi at 9:14pm Pakistan time tonight. The new service increases the number of destinations served by Cathay Pacific to 50, and further strengthens Hong Kong's role as Asia's leading aviation centre.

An inaugural dinner to celebrate the launch of the new service will be held in Karachi tomorrow. Attending the function will be representatives of Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority and Ministry of Defence. Representing Cathay Pacific will be Director Corporate Development Tony Tyler.

The new service sees Cathay Pacific operating three flights a week between Hong Kong and Karachi via Bangkok. Cathay Pacific operates the new route using an Airbus Industrie A330-300, a technologically-advanced aircraft which can carry 311 passengers in two classes.

Mr Tyler said: "We are extremely pleased to launch this new service between Hong Kong and Karachi. We see excellent long-term potential for the route given the growing trade links between Pakistan, Hong Kong, and Mainland China."

Karachi is Pakistan's largest city and has a population of over 13 million. The city is Pakistan's major trading and commercial centre and an important transit hub for domestic travel around the country. Pakistan has growing business ties with Hong Kong and more than 25,000 Pakistan residents visited Hong Kong last year.

The flight schedule for the new service is as follows:

Passengers can book through their travel agent or their local Cathay Pacific reservations office.

Cathay Pacific Airways
Corporate Communication Department