CATHAY Pacific is to
relaunch its seasonal
direct service between
Cape Town and Hong Kong,
starting November 2019
until February.
Ashish Kapur, Cathay
Pacific country manager,
South Africa and Indian
Ocean, told TNW: “We
are excited to be back.
We launched this service
last year and it was very
successful. The response to
the news for this year has
been very positive.”
The Cape Town service will
be operated by an A350-
900, with 280 passengers
across business, premium
economy and economy
class. Ashish says this is
the most modern aircraft
in Cathay’s fleet and offers
passengers a number
of benefits. “The aircraft
has an improved in-flight
entertainment system, and
automated do not disturb
and wake-up functionalities
in business class.” The 28
premium economy class
extra-wide seats include
full-length leg-rests, and a
larger baggage allowance,
in a separate cabin from
economy class.
Ashish says the route is
popular with both business
and leisure travellers and
offers excellent connections
to Asia, South West Pacific
and North America.
“I try to remind people
that the world is round –
one can easily get to North
America via Hong Kong
and we offer a number of
good connections to the
west coast of the US and
Canada.”
Ashish says other popular
connecting destinations
include Japan (particularly at
present, given the upcoming
Rugby World Cup) and China
(where business travellers
attend trade fairs).
China connections
Cathay, along with its
subsidiary Cathay Dragon,
services 23 destinations in
China. Ashish says: “These
flights connect very well with
our flights into Hong Kong
from Cape Town.” He also
points out that Hong Kong
is a visa-free destination,
and therefore provides the
potential for a stopover
package.
The CPT service will operate
three times a week, on
Mondays, Wednesdays, and
Fridays with a flight duration
of 13 hours and 50 minutes.
Flight CX794 will depart Cape
Town International Airport
at 11h05, arriving at Hong
Kong International Airport at
around 06h55 the following
morning. Return flight CX795
will depart Hong Kong at
00h10, arriving in Cape Town
at 08h30.
Cathay is putting a lot
of focus on technology to
improve customer experience,
having introduced selfbaggage drops, online
check-ins and a chatbot
functionality to assist
passengers.
