Cathay Pacific Airways today operated a near-full flight on its brand-new, state-of-the-art Airbus A350 aircraft from Hong Kong International Airport to London’s Gatwick Airport – the latest destination in the airline’s expanding network. Flight CX343 departed Hong Kong at 00:55 and arrived at Gatwick Airport on schedule at 06:30 local time.

Prior to the subsequent departure of Flight CX344, the first Cathay Pacific flight from Gatwick to Hong Kong, a ceremony was organised at the boarding gate to celebrate the special occasion with the airline’s passengers. CX344 departed Gatwick Airport with more than 90 per cent of seats filled.

The new four-times weekly service between Hong Kong and Gatwick is ideally placed to serve both leisure and business travellers. With a real focus on providing passengers with more choice and flexibility, Cathay Pacific now provides 43 non-stop flights to the United Kingdom per week, including five daily services to Heathrow and four weekly flights to Manchester.

The addition of Gatwick to the airline’s network continues Cathay Pacific’s recent expansion in Europe, following the launch of Zurich and Düsseldorf last year and Madrid in June. In total, the airline operates 96 direct flights to 10 European cities each week.

For passengers living in London, the South East and South of England, the Gatwick service offers a convenient way to travel to Hong Kong and beyond via the airline’s hub in Hong Kong.

To date, Cathay Pacific has taken delivery of four Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Incorporating innovative technology and design, the environmentally-friendly A350 provides a superior travelling experience for passengers in all classes.

Featuring the airline’s newest products in Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class, the design of the A350’s cabin has been carefully considered to give passengers greater control over how they spend their time on-board. In addition to the latest seats and an enhanced inflight entertainment system, the aircraft is WiFi-equipped, meaning passengers can stay connected throughout their journey.