Cathay Pacific launches new cargo service to Australia

Starting Nov. 21, the airline will offer a weekly dedicated freighter service connecting Hong Kong with Sydney, Melbourne and the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport in southern Queensland, the company said in a statement.    Cathay Pacific is launching a new cargo service to Australia starting Nov. 21, subject to governmental approval, the company said in a statement.
   The airline will offer weekly dedicated 747-8 freighter service connecting its hub in Hong Kong with Sydney, Melbourne and the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport in southern Queensland. According to Cathay Pacific, the service will be the first dedicated international cargo route to service Brisbane West Wellcamp.
   The company said the new service is intended to meet growing demand for transportation of a range of commodities from southern Queensland and to markets in Asia, Europe and North America.
   “Cathay Pacific is always looking for opportunities to grow our freighter business, and at the same time, boost Hong Kong’s standing as one of the world’s key international airfreight hubs,” Cathay Pacific Director Cargo Simon Large said of the new service.
   “With our successful Boeing 747-8F trial flight into Brisbane West Wellcamp last year, followed by strong support from the community of southern Queensland, we are excited to introduce this new service to support shippers in the region. With growing demand from Mainland China for Australia’s agricultural products, we are confident our service will provide local businesses with a competitive advantage as the benefits of the new China-Australia Free Trade Agreement increase.”
   In addition to twice-weekly freighter services to Sydney and Melbourne, Cathay Pacific also offers belly hold capacity on over 70 weekly passenger flights between Hong Kong and Australia.