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BIZCHINA / Biz Media Digest

Aviation: Asian aviation to grow

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-09-04 09:21

The Asia aviation sector will continue to grow in influence in the coming
years, Cathay Pacific Airways Chief Executive Tony Tyler said on Monday.

Speaking at the Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress 2007
which opened?in Hong Kong, Tyler said, spurred by fast-rising demand in
burgeoning markets such as the Chinese Mainland and India, the Asia
aviation sector will continue to grow in influence in the coming years.

Asia's carriers are "the best carriers in the world", Tyler said, "but we
are also on the way to becoming the biggest airlines in the world. The
reason this is happening, apart from growth in the region generally, is
the enormous growth in India and China. This is happening fast and it
will continue to drive the increasingly important influence of Asian
aviation."

Tyler outlined Cathay Pacific's strategy, including the integration of
Dragonair with its extensive Chinese Mainland network and the equity
relationship the airline now enjoys with Air China, for developing twin
hubs in Hong Kong and Beijing. " Hubbing is what it's all about and
Cathay Pacific is now truly a network carrier with over 50 percent of our
passengers making connections through Hong Kong," Tyler said.

Tyler also pointed to three key challenges Asian carriers will face: the
growing environmental debate, airspace congestion and ever-increasing
competition.

Cathay Pacific Airways has been named the Official Carrier of Asian
Aerospace International Expo and Congress 2007, which kick started on
Monday at AsiaWorld-Expo, which is alongside Hong Kong International
Airport.

The four-day trade-only event has attracted more than 500 exhibiting
companies from over 20 countries and regions, 12 national pavilions,
1,000 conference delegates, 100 speakers; with up to 10,000 trade
visitors expected, and more than 200 media accredited.

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)

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