HONG KONG's Cathay Pacific Airways will launch a new scheduled freighter service to Chengdu from Hong Kong via Shanghai to run every Wednesday and Friday to grow its presence in the west as it grows as a hub for high-end manufacturing.

    Outbound flights will leave Hong Kong on Wednesday at 0210 hrs and arrive in Chengdu at 0440 hrs. Flights from Chengdu for Shanghai Pudong will depart at 0640 hrs, arriving 0910 hrs. On Fridays flights will depart Hong Kong at 2230 hrs, arrives in Chengdu at 0120 hrs plus one hour, departure to Shanghai at 0320 hrs, arrival 0550 hrs.

    The airline currently operates 16 scheduled freighter flights to Shanghai each week and in early August began a twice-weekly freighter service to Chongqing in the region.

    Cathay cargo chief Nick Rhodes said the gradual shift in manufacturing towards Central and Western China has been evident with key players in the consumer electronics field recently setting up in Chongqing and Chengdu. "It is estimated that by the end of 2011, one out of five of the world's computers will be made in Chengdu."

    "While the global airfreight market has seen a slowdown in recent months, Cathay Pacific is still looking for opportunities to expand and diversify its network and develop the Hong Kong hub by serving important new markets," Mr Rhodes added.

    Besides adding Chengdu to its freighter network, Cathay Pacific will also enhance its services to Miami from a five-times-weekly flight to a daily service starting October 30.

    The airline takes delivery of 10 advanced Boeing 747-8F freighter aircraft, with the first three arriving within this year.

(source:http://www.shippingonline.cn/news/newsList.asp?classname=News)