Cathay Pacific Airways announced today that it will launch its first ever destination in Latin America with a new scheduled freighter service to Guadalajara, Mexico in last quarter 2013, subject to government approval.

With this new service, Cathay Pacific will be the first and only airline operating a freighter service linking Hong Kong and Mexico. The new freighter destination will provide shippers with greater choice and more flexibility when connecting to Cathay Pacific's international cargo network through its Hong Kong hub.

To cater for the anticipated high volumes of auto parts, electronics, garments and perishables coming out of Mexico's second city, Cathay Pacific will operate the new freighter service to Guadalajara twice a week (subject to government approval) using its newest and biggest freighter, the Boeing 747-8F offering more cargo space to meet the growing demand for a wide range of commodities from Latin America and the United States to various points in Asia.

Cathay Pacific Chief Operating Officer Ivan Chu said: "This is the first such freighter service between Hong Kong and Mexico and is a very important step in bringing two such vibrant economies closer together. With growing demand for direct cargo services between Asia and Mexico, our new freighter service will help to establish a very important trade lane between the two regions. At the same time it will help to further strengthen Hong Kong's position as one of the world's busiest international airfreight gateways."

"Air connectivity is a decisive step towards bringing our societies closer to enhance trade, investment and generate all kind of exchanges. This new cargo flight certainly goes along the spirit of a more productive and mutually beneficial Mexico-Hong Kong and Mexico-China relationships that we are experiencing." said the Secretary of Tourism of Mexico, Claudia Ruiz Massieu, on the occasion of her first official visit to Hong Kong. "I hope the cargo flights are truly successful and look forward to a passenger one in the short run", she added.

Cathay Pacific currently operates cargo services to 10 destinations in North America and flies to a total of 43 freighter destinations around the world. Previous new additions to its freighter network included Zhengzhou, Hyderabad and Colombo in 2012. The airline recently took delivery of its ninth Boeing 747-8F freighter aircraft, with three more to be delivered later in the year.

Cathay Pacific Chief Operation Officer Ivan Chu hosted a Mexican government delegation led by Claudia Ruiz Massieu, Secretary for Tourism of Mexico.