WASHINGTON -- The U.S. and Hong Kong reached an agreement that will
increase air service between the two countries, and should clear
the way for implementation of the long-standing code-share deal
between American and Oneworld partner Cathay Pacific.
American said it plans to place its code on Cathay flights to
Hong Kong from New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. It also
plans to place its code on Cathay flights beyond Hong Kong to "key
destinations" throughout Southeast Asia, including Singapore and
Bangkok.
Meanwhile, Cathay plans to place its code on American services
to many cities beyond its U.S. gateways.
The U.S.-Hong Kong agreement gives Hong Kong carriers the right
to be phased in over two years and to serve 25 U.S. cities on a
code-share basis with U.S. partners.
Other carriers also should be able to take advantage of the
agreement. There were reports, for example, that United may add a
second daily Hong Kong-Tokyo flight.
The deal allows a two-year phase-in of 28 additional weekly
flights (which would amount to four dailies) for U.S. passenger
carriers between Hong Kong and third countries. The 28 include no
more than seven additional weekly flights (amounting to one daily)
for Hong Kong-Tokyo and no more than four for Hong Kong-Osaka.
Carriers in both countries will receive unlimited rights to
place their codes on the flights of third-country carriers for
U.S.-Hong Kong service, which is something other alliances, such as
Star, may use.
Also, effective immediately, carriers will be allowed to fly
between Hong Kong and any U.S. city, eliminating the previous limit
that allowed the use of only six gateways in the continental
U.S.