Cathay soars on cargo from Colombo
In an interview with the Business Times on the airline’s 19 year service in the country, he noted “we are definitely more focused on cargo” both from Colombo and transshipment traffic.
There is a mix of tuna, edible fish, live plants and garments that comprise the main contents of the airline’s outbound cargo from Colombo, Mr. Coles-Gale explained.
He pointed out that transshipment is mainly from cargo flown in from the Maldives and into Colombo and onto their cargo hub in Hong Kong.
Currently, the carrier has a large capacity in terms of cargo space in Hong Kong, the airline said.
Commenting on Sri Lanka’s second airport, he observed that they were regularly briefed by authorities of the ongoing developments at Mattala but noted they would first study the traffic going there before moving in. “At the moment Cathay is happy with its operations to Colombo,” he said.
Enthused by SriLankan Airlines’ joining the Oneworld Alliance, he said this would enable customers to avail themselves of improved services and earn more miles and recognition when traveling with partner airlines.
The airline is looking at improving its services with re-fitted business class on long haul flights and this would be introduced into Colombo as well from next year, the country manager explained.
The carrier will be retiring its 22 old generation aircrafts Boeing 747s and replacing with the new Boeing 777s and the next generation A350s to ensure fuel efficiency in the wake of rising fuel costs, he said.
In this respect, the airline would be having 16 aircraft joining its fleet this year including freight and passenger aircrafts.
Fuel prices, he observed were “uncomfortably high” and in this regard, the airline looks at pitching for value since they do not provide low frills onboard and try to maintain competitiveness.
Cathay Pacific pulled out its operations following a terrorist attack on the BIA in the past but today find they were fortunate to be here.
“We see that the country has moved further since those times. I trust those times are a past,” he commented.
The carrier has been running online promotions to marks 19 years in Colombo. Currently, the airline operates daily three flights via Bangkok and four via Singapore.
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