Washington Dulles International Airport announced today that Cathay Pacific Airways will begin a four-times-weekly nonstop service to Hong Kong beginning September 16, 2018. Using Cathay Pacific’s new Airbus , it will be the longest nonstop air route to both Hong Kong and the Washington, D.C. region, and the longest flight in Cathay Pacific’s global network, at 7,085 nautical miles.
Dulles International in Washington, D.C., will become Cathay Pacific’s seventh passenger service gateway in the U.S. and ninth in North America. The airline, which launched nonstop service from North America in 1983, flies to Hong Kong and beyond over 100 times per week from Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Newark, New York (JFK), San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver.
“Dulles International is an ideal destination for our next U.S. gateway, with its ease of access to the D.C. Metropolitan area. Cathay Pacific is pleased to be the first air carrier offering nonstop flights from Washington, D.C., to Hong Kong,” said Philippe Lacamp, Senior Vice President, Americas, Cathay Pacific. “Washington, D.C., has special meaning for Cathay Pacific. When the airline was co-founded over 71 years ago by American Roy Farrell and his Australian partner, Sydney de Kantzow, they had dreams of growing beyond a regional Asian airline, even including ‘Pacific’ in the name in the hopes that one day it would expand across the ocean. Farrell would have been proud to see the airline serve his country’s capital.”
“In Washington, D.C., we are happy to host millions of tourists every year, and with the addition of these nonstop flights, we look forward to welcoming more travelers and business from Hong Kong and across Asia,” said Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser. “Tourism plays a vital role in supporting local businesses and creating jobs for our residents, and it has helped make D.C.’s economy one of the strongest local economies in the country. These flights are a tremendous opportunity to build on our progress and expand our reputation as the greatest city in the world.”
According to Destination DC, the official marketing organization for Washington, D.C., Asian visitation to the District increased six percent in 2016 over the previous year, accounting for 32 percent of the District’s overseas visitors.
“Cathay Pacific’s new service between Washington, D.C., and Hong Kong continues to improve the diversity of choice, worldwide connectivity and overall experience for travelers at Dulles International Airport,” said Mike Stewart, Vice President and Washington Dulles International Airport manager. “Passengers will not only have convenient access to Hong Kong’s vibrant business and cultural scenes, but also improved connectivity to Cathay Pacific’s entire Asian-Pacific network.”
CX861 will depart Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings at 1:15 a.m., arriving in Hong Kong the following day at 5:10 a.m. This early morning arrival allows passengers to connect with every Cathay Pacific flight across Asia—including Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and over 22 gateways in mainland China—without a lengthy layover in Hong Kong. The return flight, CX860, will depart Hong Kong at 6:35 p.m. (local time) on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, arriving in Washington, D.C., at 10:20 p.m. (same day).
The wide-body, twin-aisle Airbus A350-1000 brings together the very latest in aerodynamics, design and advanced technologies to provide improved fuel efficiency and a state-of-the-art travel experience for customers. Quietest among the aircraft types in its class, Cathay Pacific has taken this environmentally-friendly aircraft a step further, with its in-flight carpets and passengers’ blankets made from recycled plastic, including salvaged fishing nets and plastic bottles.
Cathay Pacific already has one of the youngest long-haul fleets in the sky—and with the arrival of the first of its 20 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft in the spring of next year, the fleet is only going to get younger.
Like the A350-900, the longer A350-1000 takes the passenger travel experience to a new level. The design of many of the cabin features has been carefully considered to give passengers the best sleeping experience, the best entertainment and even more control over how they want to use their individual space, whether for working or relaxation. With its extra wide body, the aircraft offers more space and comfort, panoramic windows and LED mood lighting, contributing to a more comfortable and relaxing journey in all cabin classes.
The Cathay Pacific A350-1000 will feature a three-class cabin comprising a refreshed Business Class cabin as well as new Premium Economy Class and Economy Class seats. The A350 Business Class seats build on the success of the airline’s award-winning long-haul Business Class product to create a memorable experience. Alongside a fully-flat bed, new features includes extra stowage space within easy reach and the personal service offered by a “Do Not Disturb” and “Wake-up Call” function in the entertainment system. The Premium Economy Class and Economy Class seats also come with exclusive power outlets and USB ports for every passenger. Each Premium Economy Class seat has a fully integrated leg rest, which, together with the ergonomically designed seat, allows more flexibility to adjust for optimal comfort.
The new A350 inflight entertainment system is inspired by the airline’s latest design philosophy. The interactive user interface is contemporary and sharp. It is equipped with some impressive new interactive features, which gives passengers even more choice than before, as well as a wider screen in all classes. Connectivity is installed, allowing passengers, for a fee, to browse the internet, send and receive emails and connect on social media. Access to the Cathay Pacific website, a number of partner websites and three live TV news channels are available free of charge.
