Since CX has applied to fly back to the Mainland, when do you think we'll be able to hop from HKG to mainland? Still in 2002?

I don't think it will be in 2002.

The news seem to be positive for CX, but I will not expect CX to fly to these Chinese destinations until next year. Maybe summer of 2003.

Carfield

And then again....
negatiotions are under way between Taiwan, Hong Kong and Chinese authorities for direct air links starting before the end of the year. One of the reaons why CX has come up with the request for HKG-PEK/SHA now is to get its share of the cake. I fear the flights will probably start no earlier than Chinese New Year 2003 (Feb) though.

even 2003 is uncertain, defnly not 2002

i just read an article from a HK newspaper
called Ming Pao. it said Dragon Air's load
factor on PEK and Shanghai flights are only
60/70% and that of China Eastern's aren't
any better on the same route. they would be
heavily against CX entering those 2 routes
as the demand doesn't justice more supply.
also, the mainland airlines are afraid of
competing against CX and later other
international airlines as they recognize
that other major international airlines
offer a flying experience/product that is
much better than what they currently can
offer.

MU maybe, but Dragonair is more or less as good as CX's regional routes for their in-flight product. (Obviously their lounges are not in the same league.)

"Dragonair is more or less as good as CX's regional routes for their in-flight product"
YOU GOTTA BE JOKING. Which Dragonair flights have inflight movies, international credit card call phone in the seat, seat width in Business class, Empower connection in the seat for your laptop, inflight internet email connection and the new livery reclining seats ? ? ?
When CX enters the Mainland market who will want to fly Dragonair and MU until they upgrade their products to match ?

OK - what I meant was compared to the CX A330 and 777. But I guess I look for different things when I am flying to China since I am normally on the company's time (so I'm not watching films). Certainly on the Dragonair A330 the business seats are as good as CX's "old"-J (which will remain on the 777s). I prefer the old seats anyway - I just slide onto the floow on the new ones, and at least there is somewhere to rest my feet on the old ones.

And the food is just as good in business or first.

Why do you need laptop power for a 2-3 hour flight - my battery is good for that long? The inflight email is useless because it doesn't support IP-VPN and constrains your use of clients and I have never in my entire travelling with CX (over 400 flights so far) seen anyone using the inseat phone. But then again at the prices they charge they probably only need about 5 calls per year system-wide to cover the cost!