Dark/Light Mode
(05/04/24)
 Cathay Cargo has resumed freighter flights to Ho
Chi Minh (Saigon), Vietnam after a hiatus of four years.

The weekly flight, CX3148, will operate as part of
a Hong Kong – Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh – Hong Kong loop every Thursday,
and will supplement Cathay Cargo’s current six freighter flights
per week from Hanoi to Hong Kong.

“Our dedicated team in Ho Chi Minh City has been
eagerly awaiting the resumption of our freighter service. We have
been working hard to ensure we are operationally ready on the
ground and able to respond quickly to our customers’ needs,
whatever they may be,” said Nicolas Masse, Country Manager for Vietnam and Cambodia.
“Our team of experts are certainly looking
forward to working with our cargo handling agents to deliver the
best service to our customers.”

Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-4F reg: B-LIC. Picture by Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com

Cathay Pacific has been operating passenger
services between Vietnam and Hong Kong since 1949. The very first
flight carried a significant amount of cargo, including diplomatic
mail as well as seafood and vegetables.

Testament to the
significance of the Vietnam market to its global freighter
network, the airline commenced full freighter services from Ho
Chi Minh and then Hanoi in March 2008.

In 2023, Cathay Cargo shipped an average of almost
2,000 tonnes of cargo from Vietnam every month, of which about 600
tonnes were carried on Cathay Pacific’s double daily passenger
flights from Ho Chi Minh.

Cargo comprised mainly of garments,
footwear, fruits, and live and frozen seafood, headed to key
destinations such as Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, North East
Asia, Australia and North America.

In addition to greater cargo capacity, the
resumption of the freighter service will give shippers in Ho Chi
Minh access to Cathay Cargo’s main-deck solutions, namely
Cathay Expert for odd-sized shipments, as well as freight
designated as Cargo-Aircraft-Only, such as certain dangerous
goods.

“We are very excited to welcome our freighter back to
Ho Chi Minh City again,” said Ashish
Kapur, Regional Head of Cargo, Southeast Asia. “With factory activities resuming and air
cargo demand picking up, it is timely for us to resume our
freighter service from the economic heart of Vietnam. Together
with our existing twice daily passenger flights serving the city,
the addition of our freighter service will give local businesses
more choices, especially in terms of our specialised solutions
that can be tailored to suit their needs. Whether it is the latest
fashion wear from the factories, fresh dragon fruit from the farms
or live seafood from the ocean, we are committed to partnering
with them on their journey to bring the best of Vietnam to Hong
Kong and the rest of the world.”

Latest
exclusive video interviews: 9 HD Video Interviews from Routes Asia 2024 in Langkawi, Malaysia;

Electric Airport Taxis at Almaty Airport (ALA) in Kazakhstan – HD
Video Interview with CEO.