I wonder if this means UA will be going back into Auckland Mark Quoting Bill Hough <psa188@xxxxxxxx>: > =20 > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SF Gate. > The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: > http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2003/08/26/f= > inancial0929EDT0039.DTL > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Tuesday, August 26, 2003 (AP) > United Airlines to resume full trans-Pacific services next month > MARGARET WONG, Associated Press Writer > > > (08-26) 06:29 PDT HONG KONG (AP) -- > United Airlines said Tuesday it will restore all trans-Pacific flights > next month, including those from Hong Kong, as it attempts to recover from > the sharp downturn in air travel caused by SARS. > Meanwhile, United's chief executive, Glenn Tilton, who begins a two-day > trip to Beijing on Wednesday, said he will discuss cooperation plans with > mainland Chinese airlines to help United expand into the booming mainland > Chinese aviation market. > United, the world's No. 2 carrier, slashed 75 percent of its flights in > and out of Hong Kong at the peak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome > outbreak, said Mark Schwab, a United vice president. > The airline, which earns 17 percent of its revenue from trans-Pacific > routes, has been gradually restoring its services since SARS fears eased > in June, Schwab said. The airline will also resume daily flights between > Hong Kong and Singapore on Oct. 26, he said. > SARS first surfaced in mainland China late last year and killed 299 > peop= > le > in Hong Kong. The virus prompted travel warnings across Asia and > devastated Hong Kong's tourism industry. > United Senior Vice President Graham Atkinson said the airline is > "seeing= > a > significant upturn in terms of business travelers' pent-up demand," but a > full recovery is only expected by the end of this year or early next year. > Tilton said he will discuss with mainland Chinese carriers possible > cooperation such as code-sharing, frequent-flyer programs and facility > sharing. > The code-sharing agreement would allow United to put its UA flight > numbe= > rs > on its mainland partner's services and sell seats as if they were on > United flights. > Tilton declined to name a partner, but hinted that it might be Air > China. > "In the event that a code-share with Air China would happen, that would > = > be > a good thing, and would benefit passenger connectivity," Tilton said. He > said the possible tie-up was one of the "worst-kept secrets" in the > airline industry. > Tilton said the Asia-Pacific market, with its potentially huge economic > growth, presents the "most significant" international opportunity for > United. > "We are more committed than ever to the region, to China, to Hong Kong," > Tilton said. > Tilton said he hopes the Chinese partners will eventually become a > member > of Star Alliance, a network comprising 16 carriers, which includes United, > Air Canada, Deutsche Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines. > Selina Chow, chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, said despite a > strong rebound in the short-haul market, the number of visitors from the > United States in July was still down 42 percent compared with the same > month last year. > "This is understandable because it always takes a bit more time to > rebui= > ld > confidence in the long-haul market and convert interest into actual > travel," Chow said. > American travelers are the fourth largest group of visitors to Hong > Kong, > with more than 1 million arriving here last year, according to Chow. > > =20 > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Copyright 2003 AP >