Cathay Pacific's new service to Riyadh now in operation
Cathay Pacific Airways yesterday launched its new service between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh. The first flight touched down in Riyadh slightly ahead of schedule at 10:53pm. The new service involved two return flights a week and utilises Cathay Pacific's Boeing 777-200 aircraft.
Riyadh is the second new destination Cathay Pacific has launched this year. In March the airline commenced services to India's capital Delhi. The airline has also announced it will begin flights to the Japanese city of Sapporo in 2 December.
The city of Riyadh is rich in history and home to many archaeological sites and museums. The attractions include the Masmak Fortress, Murraba Palace, Al-Thumairi Gate and the ruins of the old capital Dir'aiyah. As Saudi Arabia's capital, it also acts as an ideal base to visit other Saudi Arabian cities.
Cathay Pacific's Director and Chief Operating Officer Philip Chen said: "Riyadh is an important addition to Cathay Pacific's passenger network and will help further enhance Hong Kong's position as Asia's leading aviation hub."
Details of the new Riyadh service are as follows:
| Flight
|
Route
|
Departure
|
Arrival
|
Days
|
| CX733
|
Hong Kong - Bahrain
|
4:30pm
|
8:45pm
|
Wednesday and
|
| Bahrain - Riyadh
|
9:55pm
|
11:20pm
|
Sunday
|
|
| CX732
|
Riyadh - Hong Kong
|
12:30am
|
1:25pm
|
Thursday and Monday
|
Cathay Pacific first began flying to the Middle East in November 1976. Following the launch of the new service to Riyadh, it now operates 18 passenger flights a week to destinations in the Middle East. This includes seven flights a week to Bahrain, nine to Dubai, and two to Riyadh.
