Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways is seeking to spread its wings on the Chinese mainland, airline chairman James Hughes-Hallett revealed in Beijing Thursday.

"With the airline now serving Beijing three times a week, we hope to raise the number of flights and expand the services to more destinations in the mainland," said Hughes-Hallett.

The Cathay Pacific chief led a delegation to Beijing this week, meeting top government officials to express the airline's desire to expand its services and celebrate its resumption of flights to the capital.

"This is a successful trip, the central government officials recognize the benefits of expanding travel between Hong Kong and the mainland," he said.

He added that he is confident that his company could get the approval for its application to fly to Shanghai and Xiamen and increase the number of flights to Beijing.

"In the future, with more flights to the Chinese mainland, Cathay Pacific will have more customers and gain more profits," said Philips Chen, the company's director and chief operating officer.

Chen revealed that an average of more than 70 percent seats were booked on Cathay Pacific's flights, since it resumed its service to Beijing on December 2.

"The service resumption is a milestone for the airline in investing and developing in the mainland market," Hughes-Hallet said.

He added that the Chinese mainland is currently the fifth most popular travel destination in the world and will become the most popular one by 2016.

"Cathay's business resumption plan will strengthen Hong Kong's positions as the global aviation hub, and a primary gateway to the Chinese mainland," he said.

(China Daily March 5, 2004)