Dragonair to expand its fleet and expand in China

Dragonair (Hong Kong) has announced plans to add six more aircraft and extend its network in Mainland China and Asia in response to growing air traffic demand in the region. The airline will also speed up product upgrades, including new aircraft seats, inflight entertainment equipment and broadband connectivity, as part of its commitment to providing a premium travel experience.

The additional six aircraft, four Airbus A320s and two Airbus A330s, will enter the fleet this year, expanding the size of the Dragonair fleet from 32 to 38 aircraft. The carrier will resume services to Guilin, Xian and Taichung by the second quarter of 2012 and is looking into the possibility of adding two to three more new destinations in Mainland China and within the region later in the year.

Dragonair saw good demand in its premium cabins throughout 2011, though growth was slower in Economy Class. August was a record-breaking month for the airline with new highs for both the number of passengers carried and revenue. The airline’s performance in the first month of 2012 was buoyed by strong demand over the Chinese New Year period and on 29 January Dragonair set a new record for the number of passengers carried in a single day.

Data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shows that Asia is driving the growth in aviation and shifting the industry’s center of gravity eastward. In 2010, about 33% of passengers travelled on routes to, from or within the Asia-Pacific region – more than both North America and Europe. Meanwhile, of the 877 million additional passengers that will be generated between 2010 and 2015, 212 million are expected to fly on routes associated with China.

Copyright Photo: Guillaume Besnard.

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Dragonair’s regional routes (in red):

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