Dragonair to double cargo fleet in 3 years
Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, which will launch its first transpacific freighter service this week, says it plans to double the size of its cargo fleet in the next three years.
Albert Yau Chong-yin, general manager for cargo, says the airline will own at least eight freighters of varying Boeing 747 types by 2008, up from the current four.
In addition, the carrier might also wet-lease another Airbus A300B4 to complement the A300B4 freighter it already had servicing mainland cities, he said.
'It's a question of whether we should order more B747-400 freighters, or B747-300 [models],' Mr Yau said. 'That decision depends on market conditions.'
Dragonair, which is understood to be the target of a takeover bid from minority shareholder Cathay Pacific Airways, began mulling the possibility of a transpacific freighter service to the United States market as early as four years ago.
It will make its long-awaited breakthrough on April 2, when it launches thrice-weekly freighter services to New York's John F Kennedy International Airport.
The carrier will use a B747-400 wet-leased from China Airlines to launch the route, rather than wait for the delivery of five B747-400s which it purchased last year that are being converted into freighters in Singapore and Xiamen. Those planes are due for delivery from the end of next year.
A wet-lease means that the aircraft will be crewed by China Airlines' personnel, rather than by Dragonair pilots.
New York will be the 11th international destination served by the carrier's freighter fleet of and its first outside Asia and Europe.
Dragonair purchased a B747-200 with a capacity of 110 tonnes last year, joining three B747-300s in its stable and the wet-leased A300B4 used on mainland routes.
The carrier also plans to increase freighter services to Ningbo and Tsingtao in the mainland.
