Cathay Pacific code-share with Dragonair to bring additional benefits for passengers
21 November 2006


Cathay Pacific Airways today announced a new code-share arrangement with Dragonair that will bring significant benefits for passengers travelling to and from a number of key regional destinations. The new arrangement - the first time for the two carriers to code-share - is the latest initiative to result from the integration of Cathay Pacific and Dragonair that has already resulted in a number of developments to benefit passengers and the Hong Kong aviation hub as a whole.

The code-share applies to seven cities in total and is effective on flights to Shanghai, Beijing, Xiamen, Tokyo and Kota Kinabalu from 1 December 2006. The code-share will also apply to two new Dragonair destinations: Phuket, which launches on 15 December, and Busan (subject to Government approval), where flights begin on 19 January 2007. All the code-share flights will carry both the �CX� and �KA� codes.

The code-share will extend the Cathay Pacific network by three destinations � Kota Kinabalu, Phuket and Busan � to 105 and give passengers more choice on the routes on which both carriers operate. For example, on the Shanghai route passengers can choose to fly on the Cathay Pacific daily service, which launches on 1 December, or on the other 16 flights each day that are code-shared with Dragonair. Overseas passengers, who are perhaps more familiar with the Cathay Pacific brand, will be able to book a Cathay Pacific ticket through to the code-shared destinations, enjoying seamless connections through the Hong Kong hub. Other advantages for customers include being able to book flights online to the code-shared destinations through the Cathay Pacific website.

Cathay Pacific Director Corporate Development Augustus Tang said: �We are delighted to announce this new code-share arrangement between Cathay Pacific and Dragonair. The principal aim of our integration with Dragonair is to create new synergies that will bring a range of benefits for passengers as well as help to further develop Hong Kong as an international aviation hub. The code-share marks another significant step towards achieving this aim.�

Dragonair became a wholly owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific on 28 September this year. Developments announced since the integration of the two airlines include the relaunch of Dragonair�s Phuket service; a reduction in the �Minimum Connecting Time� between the two carriers that has had led to some 451 more same-day connections each week for passengers travelling through Hong Kong International Airport; and the launch of a new Dragonair service to Busan. Work is ongoing in a number of areas, including better alignment of the schedules of the two carriers, to bring further benefits for passengers.

very interesting...this codeshare starts Dec 1, while KA flights accrual to MPO (as Club sectors/miles) start only on Jan 1...so we should all book CX codeshares in Dec as much as possible so that the flights count towards status, either CX MPO or AAdvantage status etc...(and seems like these codeshares are available "standalone" too, i.e. HKG-PVG-HKG, without the need for a long-haul connection with CX)

my questions as an AAdvantage elite, for these CX codeshares on KA metal:
- these count towards my AAdvantage elite status, right ?
- these would get me the usual 100% bonus as well, right ?
- (i.e. these are considered the same as normal CX flights for AAdvantage purpose?)

another question in general...
- for people booking CX codeshare number, would they be allowed to use CX lounge as well ? or still just KA lounge as if it's a normal KA flight ? what's the usual CX policy regarding codeshares ?

thanks.

When I flew KA, they let me into the CX Business Class Lounge.

I am still a bit confused... So, did you book under CX or KA, when you fly on KA metal and they let you in the lounge?