CATHY PACIFIC AIRWAYS has released more details of their forthcoming (1 July) non-stop introduction between JFK New York and Hong Kong. Rolls-Royce powered Airbus A340-600 aircraft will be used on the service with an estimated flight time of anything up to 18 hours depending on winds and routing. In fact there are four possible routes that can be used including one that takes the aircraft within 60 miles of the North Pole. Two flight desk crews are used for the trip and the aircraft has a reduced first class (8), 60 in business and 220 economy class passengers. The flights leave Hong Kong at 1015 and arrive 1300 local (1400 summer) the same day, after a journey of at least 7,274 nm. Turnaround is less than two hours, quick for an ultra long haul flight but CX sees no problems, for what is a relatively quiet time at JFK. The aircraft should be off the stand at 1550 local arriving back at the Norman Foster designed Chek Lap Kok Airport by soon after eight o”clock the following evening. Cathy offers an alternative daily service via Vancouver that takes three hours longer, but does allow for a stretch. Continental has introduced direct competition with a two-class Boeing 777 operation based out of Newark.
http://www.cathaypacific.com