Just saw this on VFTW:

Cathay Pacific’s Low Cost Carrier to Fly to U.S.?

June 30, 2017

"Cathay Dragon, formerly known as Dragonair, has been granted authorization to the U.S. I don’t really know what’s going on here. (HT: Aviation consultant Jeffrey Hartz)"

http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....rrier-fly-u-s/

Low cost carrier

honolulu?

Rather interesting albeit nothing will come of it in all likelihood. If CX are indeed intending to enter the LCC market as some have speculated, long haul LCC isn't exactly the best option. I simply think this was an opportunity to secure those approval rights so that someday in the future should they for some reason want to operate KA routes to the US they can.

KA doesn't have any planes which can do HNL, the A333 would have to be weight restricted from HNL. Of course, something crazy could happen and CX could give KA some A350s.

I wonder if it's related to GUM? Both HK Express and United Airlines serve GUM out of HKG. That's in range of all KA's planes. UO launched Guam in December of last year, one month before KA/CX made this application. Before UO, United had a monopoly on the route. They serve it a few days per week.

I don't know if DOT regulations apply to GUM, but I'm guessing so given it's a US territory.

[See my update at last post]

no, you are misreading. Gary Leff (the website this is linked to) is the one who says KA is an LCC. Obviously that's wrong (despite our sarcastic whinging/fears on here). He's just one of the blogger types who randomly redistributes half correct information. KA is still absolutely positioned as full-service.

There is nothing in the application about LCC. I think jacobsleather is saying that in jest at Leff's half-arsed post.

And my logical guess is this application would be related to a potential GUM flight, which is a 4-5 hour flight. (see my post above about GUM). Logically, GUM would fit in nicely with the KA/CX strategy of using KA to funnel pax from mainland China. And it is not a well-served destination from mainland China, but it is indeed popular with Asian tourists...right now mainly Taiwan, Japan and some Korea. I could see GUM being quite a smart addition to the KA network.

[Update: Interestingly, UO just cancelled Guam as of June 26. So United Airlines is back to having a monopoly, running it 4x weekly I think on a B738. Interesting!]

KA HKG-GUM would be a great service to have!

C'mon. You aren't interested in paying $800 for a last minute flight from Chiang Mai to Hong Kong?

It should be HNL.

What special is the application was for a Fifth Freedom authority. Per DOT's decision, KA has indicated that HKG will not be the starting point. If HNL is indeed the destination, then the midpoint should be a Mainland coastal city, probably PVG/SHA or PEK, which are served by CA and MU.

My guess is KA wants to get head-to-head with either CA or MU (with MU as a higher possibility due to partnership with CA).

Unfortunately it is not the case.

Per DOT's decicion, KA has the authority to operate HKG-GUM before this application.

If KA has to make a new application, it should have nothing to do with GUM.

Also - UO has suspended its HKG-GUM indefinitely.

The entire FAA applies to Guam in full.

Wow...this is fascinating! Fifth freedom for KA? An A333 to HNL would probably work from TPE, fyi right at the tip of the range. Doesn't CX have existing fifth freedoms from TPE?

Still seems a little bizarre to me if HNL....the obvious choice for that route is a CX A359 nonstop.

There is rumour that KA is starting services to GUM, so probably this is why.

Or up-guage the KA HND flight to A333 and tag it from there.

Anyone know how long they have to operate a flight before this expires?

You can have:

1. HNL
2. Like what you said, fifth-freedom from China. This will be key cause you can have any China cities from PVG/HGH/CTU/PEK/CAN to most West Coast within reasonable flying range. SJC/SAN/SFO/PDX/SEA.
3. SEA. If DL can do it, so can KA.
4. ANC.
5. YVR - It's possible for CX to let KA take one of their segment out of HKG-YVR. Can be YVR-YYZ as well to put AC out of misery.

KA as LCC? I gotta tell you, if they can make HNL-HKG or any WestCoast-HKG to be $1500USD in J, I think a lot of people will jump on it.

Wow attacking JL?

If that's the case you can have:

ICN-HNL/West Coast
Russia-HNL/West Coast
HND/CTS/HND/KIX-HNL
Dreaming HNL-IPC

If CX/KA can go to deep South from HNL, then it would have been great attacking all the US3.

Attacking all Chinese hubs and ICNs can be great advantage to CX/KA.

Haha, no!! I don't know why this is so confusing to folks. KA and CX only fly A333s they CANNOT do these flights you propose, period full stop end of story. I do not care what airliner.nets or a 2 minute internet search yields....the concept that an A333 will fly HKG to SEA, HNL, China to HNL or whatever else is proposed will lead to tech stops for every flight or planes ditching in the ocean. It is totally bizarre that it keeps coming up.

The A332 is what DL flies, and A332 DOES NOT EQUAL A333.

It's interesting nonetheless but to make the flights you propose, CX would have to allocate 77Ws or A350s to KA, or KA must buy different aircraft.

Good point! Flights to/from Chiang Mai are always pretty expensive on KA!