Cathay Pacific Airways celebrated Monday the success of its first passenger service to Xiamen.

Flight CX350 departed Hong Kong on schedule at 10:05 a.m. Monday and returned from Xiamen at 13:45 p.m.

The flight's arrival marked an important milestone in Cathay Pacific's ongoing effort to strengthen Hong Kong as a global hub and gateway to the Chinese mainland, said a release of Cathay Pacific Airways.

Xiamen has long held strong overseas connections. With the new services to the city, Cathay Pacific offers passengers greater choice in providing same-carrier connections through Hong Kong to points across the region and up to 90 destinations around the world, it said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 1, 2005)