DOT selects air carriers for Hong Kong cargo service

DOT selects air carriers for Hong Kong cargo service    The U.S. Department of Transportation last week made final with slight modification its July 14 interim decision expanding U.S.-Hong Kong air traffic rights for six all-cargo carriers.
   FedEx Express, United Parcel Service, Evergreen International Airlines, Kalitta Air, Northwest Airlines and Polar Air Cargo can begin additional weekly flights between Hong Kong and third countries Oct. 26.
   The carriers were granted interim authority to serve other countries on a limited basis out of Hong Kong after the United States and China agreed in October 2002 to liberalize their existing bilateral aviation agreement to include such “beyond” country-to-country rights.
   Polar Air operates two flights to Seoul and sought an extra frequency to Manila, Philippines. Under the modified ruling Polar was granted permission to transfer all rights from Manila service to three weekly flights to New Delhi, India via Malaysia.
   Rights for other airlines remained the same, with FedEx and UPS each allowed six flights to the Philippines and an additional six to Europe. Other airlines are to serve Manila, Dubai and Seoul, South Korea.
   The U.S. government fought for expanded traffic rights as a way to benefit shippers with more service options and to strengthen competition in the Pacific air cargo trade lanes.