On December 20, Qantas announced that it would increase services between Melbourne and Hong Kong by three flights per week from April 1, 2008.*

The Executive General Manager of Qantas, Mr John Borghetti, said that with the additional services, the airline would operate 10 services per week on the Melbourne-Hong Kong route.

He said the new services would be operated by two-class, 297-seat A330-300 aircraft, offering the award-winning Skybed sleeper seat in Business and audio and video on demand in Business and Economy.

"The new flights will complement our current daily three class B747-400 services on the route, and signal a move towards a double daily Melbourne-Hong Kong service in the future," Mr Borghetti said.

"Hong Kong is an important market for Qantas - both in its own right and as a gateway to China."

"These new Melbourne services will take to 31 the number of flights Qantas operates to Hong Kong, including double daily flights from Sydney, 10 per week from Melbourne, four from Brisbane and three from Perth."

The new Melbourne-Hong Kong will operate on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, departing Melbourne at 11:55am, and returning from Hong Kong at 9:05pm.

Mr Borghetti said Qantas had also recently announced two services per week between Melbourne and Shanghai, commencing March 11, 2008.

* Subject to government approval.