On August 1, the Cathay Pacific Airways Group officially opened a new office in Beijing that will provide customers with a more seamless travel experience. The office features separate counters for both Cathay Pacific and Dragonair.

The opening was attended by a number of senior officials including Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Deputy Director General of Transport Department He Jin Ri, Deputy Director General of the Department of Exchange and Cooperation of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Huang Guang, and Air China General Manager of Department of International Cooperation Lou Yong Feng. A number of Beijing's leading travel agents and cargo agents were also in attendance at the opening ceremony, which was officiated by Cathay Pacific Chief Executive and Dragonair Chairman Tony Tyler.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Tyler said: "Beijing is a market of immense importance to us, and so our office here not only serves this key destination of the two airlines but also plays a vital role in implementing our overall business strategy and marketing and sales functions across the Mainland."

Mr. Tyler said that Mainland China continues to be a key focus of the Group's overall strategy and "is where we see our future". He announced that Patrick Yeung has recently been appointed as General Manager, China, to lead the Mainland China team with some 650 staff in the 19 ports to which the two airlines fly. "I am sure Patrick will be a fine standard bearer and ambassador for our Group," he said.

Mr. Tyler explained that since the integration of the two airlines last year, a lot of work has been done to maximise the synergies between Cathay Pacific's strong international network and Dragonair's extensive Mainland China network, bringing benefits to customers, the Hong Kong hub and the aviation industry overall.

During his speech, Mr. Tyler shared the news that Cathay Pacific is strengthening its services on a number of key routes, with more flights to New York, San Francisco, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth from October or November, and more flights to Vancouver already in operation.

"This is excellent news for connecting even more passengers from our long-haul services with Dragonair's Mainland routes. It's exciting news not only for the Cathay Pacific Group but also for the industry, as the extra services will help further strengthen Hong Kong's position as a leading international aviation hub and gateway to Mainland China."

The new Cathay Pacific Group office is located at 28/F, East Tower, Twin Towers, B-12 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District, Beijing.

Photograph 1: Cathay Pacific Chief Executive and Dragonair Chairman Tony Tyler (fourth from left), Cathay Pacific and Dragonair General Manager, China Patrick Yeung (sixth from left), Dragonair Manager - Beijing and Northern China Anna Cheung (first from left), Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Deputy Director General of Transport Department He Jin Ri (fifth from left), CAAC Deputy Director of the Office of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Wu Li (first from right), CAAC Director of the General Office, the Management Committee of Beijing Capital International Airport Wu Wen Liang (second from left), Deputy Director General of the Department of Exchange and Cooperation of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Huang Guang (third from left), and Air China General Manager of Department of International Cooperation Lou Yong Feng (second from right) during the pig-cutting ceremony.

Photograph 2: Cathay Pacific Chief Executive and Dragonair Chairman Tony Tyler (fourth from left in the second row), Cathay Pacific and Dragonair General Manager, China Patrick Yeung (second from right in the second row), Dragonair Manager - Beijing and Northern China Anna Cheung (third from left in the first row), Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Deputy Director General of Transport Department He Jin Ri (third from right in the second row), CAAC Deputy Director of the Office of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Wu Li (first from right in the first row), CAAC Director of the General Office, the Management Committee of Beijing Capital International Airport Wu Wen Liang (second from left in the second row), Deputy Director General of the Department of Exchange and Cooperation of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Huang Guang (third from left in the second row), and Air China General Manager of Department of International Cooperation Lou Yong Feng (first from right in the second row) with other guests.