On July 31, Cathay Pacific Airways announced that it is strengthening services on a number of routes, with additional flights to New York, San Francisco, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth from October or November, and more flights to Vancouver already in operation. The extra flights will provide passengers with more choice and further cement Hong Kong's position as a leading international aviation hub.

Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Tony Tyler said: "We are delighted to be able to offer more options for travel to some of our most important markets, made possible by the continued expansion of our fleet. The additional services to North America and Australia will bring more people to and through Hong Kong, helping to reinforce the city's role as a leading international aviation hub and gateway to Mainland China. These enhanced services coincide with the imminent arrival of our new fleet of Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and rollout of our new three-class long-haul product that together will help to redefine the long-haul experience offered by the airline."

In North America, a second non-stop flight to New York is being added from November 15, meaning the airline will operate three flights a day to America's biggest business centre (including the CX888/9 service that flies via Vancouver). The two direct flights to New York will be operated using Cathay Pacific's soon-to-arrive fleet of Boeing 777-300ER ultra-long-haul aircraft which all feature a brand-new three-class inflight product.

The airline is also adding a second daily service to and from San Francisco from October 18. The new CX870 flight will depart Hong Kong at 14.10, supplementing the existing CX872 late-afternoon departure, while the return CX879 service from San Francisco provides travellers with more options when connecting through the Hong Kong hub.

Cathay Pacific further boosted its North American services recently by adding three additional flights a week to and from Vancouver. The extra flights - every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from Hong Kong - mean the airline now operates a total of 17 flights to the city every week.

Services to and from Australia are also being significantly strengthened, with Melbourne being turned into a three-times-daily service from October 1. The new CX163 service will depart Hong Kong at 09.20 to supplement the existing early-evening and late-night flights. At the same time the number of flights to Adelaide will be increased from four a week to daily, operating on a triangular routing through Melbourne, while one more flight to Perth every Sunday will make it a five-times-a-week service with effect from October 28.

Network Expansion in North America

NEW YORK

• Adding second non-stop daily flight (a total of three flights a day including one via Vancouver) from November 15.
• Aircraft type: Boeing 777-300ER.

SAN FRANCISCO

• Adding second non-stop daily flight from October 18.
• Aircraft type: Boeing 747-400.

VANCOUVER

• Added three more flights weekly making a total of 17 a week.
• Extra sectors effective from June 14 and permanent schedule from October 28.
• Aircraft type: Airbus A340-300.

Network Expansion in Australia

MELBOURNE

• Adding third non-stop daily flight from October 1.
• Aircraft type: Airbus A330-300.

ADELAIDE

• Adding three more flights, making it a daily service, from October 1.
• Aircraft type: Airbus A330-300.

PERTH

• Adding fifth weekly service from October 28.
• Aircraft type: Airbus A330-300.