Hong Kong Airlines, an airline based in Hong Kong, China, has announced the cancellation of flights between Hong Kong and London Gatwick Airport in the UK.
The airline is terminating its all-business class flights from September 10, 2012, and will focus on the Asia-Pacific region, after reporting that the ongoing fragile economic conditions in Europe, as well as strengthening of economic conditions in Asia, had influenced its decision.
Yang Jian Hong, the airline president, said, ‘We believe that a regional model focused on Asia Pacific is most appropriate for Hong Kong Airlines at this stage of our growth.
Our key focus will be building our regional network and strengthening our business across China, South East Asia, Japan and Korea. As part of this decision, we will suspend our long-haul flights to London from 10 September, 2012 until further notice.
Our plan is to redeploy the three specially equipped, all-business class A330’s which currently service the London route to charter flights following the suspension.’
The airline had only launched its all-business class flights to Gatwick from Hong Kong as recently as March this year. The all-premium daily service operates from London Gatwick Airport’s North Terminal, with 82 Club Classic seats and 34 Club Premier seats.
Gatwick airport has also recently announced that Malaysia-based Air Asia X had terminated its s flights to the Sussex Airport in March 2012.
Earlier a spokesperson from the airport in the UK said, ‘We have been advised that (Hong Kong Airlines) are evaluating the route and as part of this, the bookings have been closed out in the system.’
