29 April 2008

Kagoshima next for Hong Kong Express

HONG KONG - Hong Kong Express Airways will launch its second scheduled service to Japan: a new three times weekly direct flight between Hong Kong and Kagoshima, the only direct service available between the two cities.

Earlier this month, Hong Kong Express launched direct flights to Okinawa.

The launch follows just days after the airlineÃ¢â¬â¢s introduction of chartered services to Okayama and precedes the start of scheduled direct services to Hiroshima later this week.

Hiroshima will be the airlineÃ¢â¬â¢s third scheduled service between Hong Kong and Japan, and will operate twice weekly (every Thursday and Sunday) from May 1.

The slew of new routes is part of Hong Kong Express AirwaysÃ¢â¬â¢ drive to capture a share of the Japanese market following liberalisation of the countryÃ¢â¬â¢s air traffic policy earlier this year.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœBy providing direct flights between Hong Kong and interesting destinations, we offer more choices and great convenience for travellers who want to explore new destinations.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœWe have seen already growth on our Okinawa route and I believe that we will see the same with these new destinations,Ã¢â¬~ said Ronnie Choi, president of Hong Kong Express Airways.

Situated at the south-western tip of the Kyushu island of Japan, Kagoshima is often referred to as the Ã¢â¬ËœNaples of the OrientÃ¢â¬â¢ due to the similarity between Mount Sakurajima and Kinko Bay with Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples in Italy.