Dragonair just announced opening a new route to Yangon starting Jan 2013, with 4 weekly service using A321. The return flight from RGN to HKG would be a red eye service. Cathay Pacific (Dragonair's parent) has served Rangoon back in the 1960s via Bangkok. This marks the group's return to Myanmar/Burma after a 40+ years absence.
This year has been a tremendous growth year for the Cathay Pacific group. Despite the financial losses and frequency reduction on long-haul routes, the group has been aggressive in expanding the regional footprint, especially outside of its comfort zone of mainland China. New destinations added since Summer 2012 are:
- KA: Clark (Philippines), Jeju (Korea), Chiangmai (Thailand), Haikou (service resumption, China), Zhengzhou (China), Kolkata (India) and Taichung (service resumption, Taiwan), and now Yangon (Myanmar)
- CX: Hyderabad (India)
Likewise, RGN has experienced exponential growth this year as international businesses move back into this long isolated country. The destination has seen massive capacity and service increase from Guangzhou (CZ), Taipei (AE), Bangkok (TG and PG), Singapore (MI and SQ) and also new service introduction from Doha (QR), Hanoi (VN), Seoul (OZ) and Narita (NH). HKG with KA would be the latest addition. I wonder when KA would have to upgrade the service to A330 or to daily frequency.