Dragonair boosts Vietnam network with new service to Da Nang

Dragonair has announced that, subject to government approval, it will launch a new three-times-weekly service from Hong Kong to Da Nang commencing 28 March 2013. The new Da Nang service will offer more choice and convenience to passengers travelling to and from Vietnam, and will further strengthen the airline’s network in Asia.

Da Nang will become the 12th destination launched or resumed by Dragonair since April 2012. It will also be the airline’s second destination in Vietnam. Dragonair currently flies ten times a week between Hong Kong and Hanoi, while sister airline Cathay Pacific operates sixteen flights weekly between Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City.

Operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the new Da Nang service will depart Hong Kong every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Da Nang, known for its beautiful coastlines, including the famed Danang Beach, is also home to three UNESCO World Heritage sites - Hoi An, My Son and Hue. The city’s mix of natural, historical and cultural attractions makes Da Nang an ideal leisure destination.

For New Zealand passengers, Cathay Pacific’s recently announced codeshare service with Air New Zealand from Auckland to Hong Kong will provide a convenient connection to Da Nang. Departing from Auckland at midnight, passengers will arrive into Hong Kong at 6.05AM the next morning in time to make an easy transfer to the 8.00AM flight to Da Nang.

Dragonair Chief Executive Officer Patrick Yeung said: “Vietnam is becoming an increasingly important business and tourism destination and we are very excited about strengthening our presence in the country. Our new Da Nang service will facilitate more tourist traffic between Hong Kong and Vietnam and further boost Hong Kong’s role as a major international aviation hub.”

The flight schedule for Da Nang (DAD) is as follows. All times local and subject to government approval:

Flight No     From    To      Departure/Arrival      Days of Operation

KA220         HKG     DAD   0800/0855                Thursday, Sunday

                                        1550/ 1650               Tuesday

KA221         DAD     HKG   0950/1250                Thursday

                                        1005/1305                Sunday                          

                                        1905/2205                Tuesday

* Note: The schedule may change without prior notice.

Dragonair earlier announced that it will launch new services to Zhengzhou, Yangon and Wenzhou on 8, 9 and 25 January 2013 respectively. The airline will also increase frequencies to a number of destinations effective from the 2013 summer schedule. Services to Wuhan will be enhanced from seven to nine flights per week from 31 March and one extra flight will be added to Jeju from the same date, making a total of four weekly flights to this increasingly popular Korean destination.

Dragonair, an affiliate member of oneworld, is a Hong Kong-based airline operating a fleet of 38 passenger aircraft and serving 41 regional destinations, including 20 cities in Mainland China. Dragonair has been recognised for its product and service quality, and was named the “Best Regional Airline” at the TTG Travel Awards 2012, and voted for two consecutive years "World's Best Regional Airline" in the annual World Airline Survey run by Skytrax in 2010 and 2011. Dragonair is part of the Cathay Pacific Group, providing seamless connectivity for passengers to more than 160 cities around the globe.

Sourced: Airline News