Airlines Cathay to resume flights to Beijing November 2003 354 Share Cathay Pacific goes back to the mainland. Cathay Pacific Airways will resume flights to Beijing, China on December 2, 2003, after a 13-year hiatus. Approval for Cathay Pacific to operate services to Beijing comes amid other initiatives aimed at boosting Hong Kong’s economy and strengthening its links with the Chinese Mainland, including the implementation of CEPA and allowing individual travellers to visit Hong Kong. This development is welcome news to UAE’s increasing population of Chinese nationals, majority of which are coming from Beijing and mainland China. The commencement of services to the capital will mark a major milestone in the airline’s ongoing effort to enhance Hong Kong’s position as a global aviation hub and primary gateway to China. “Resuming our operation to China would directly benefit the growing Chinese populace in the UAE as it will provide them with more flights. The market potential of opening up flights to China is huge especially with the increase in tourism between China and UAE,” said Navin Chellaram, country manager for UAE and Oman.
