284
TRANSPORT
To further enhance the fire-fighting and rescue capabilities at Kai Tak, an order was placed for an additional fire appliance equipped with a hydraulic platform. Delivery is expected in early 1995. A plan to replace fire-fighting vehicles with more than 10 years' service is being implemented.
Air Services
Hong Kong is home to three international airlines. During the year, Cathay Pacific Airways (CPA), the largest of the three, commenced scheduled passenger services to Toronto in June. To cope with the increasing scale of its operations, CPA acquired two extra B747- 400s, one of which is a freighter, and two A340-200s to replace two of its L1011s. At the end of 1994, its fleet comprised 17 L1011s, seven B747-200s, six B747-300s, 18 B747- 400s, four B747-200Fs, one B747-400F and two A340s a total of 55 aircraft.
Hong Kong Dragon Airlines (Dragonair) continued to operate scheduled services to seven cities in China and six other destinations in Asia, together with non-scheduled passenger services to a number of other cities in the region, mostly in China and Japan. The airline commenced joint services with Royal Brunei Airlines to Bandar Seri Begawan in September, with the Malaysian Airline System to Kuching in November, and suspended its scheduled services to Kagoshima at the end of March. With the addition of another A320 aircraft, the airline now operates seven A320 and two L1011 aircraft.
Air Hong Kong (AHK) continued to operate scheduled all-cargo services to Manchester, Brussels, Dubai, Delhi, and Nagoya, and non-scheduled cargo services to a number of destinations in Asia, using two B747F aircraft. The airline suspended its scheduled all-cargo services to Ho Chi Min City and Singapore in October and November, respectively.
The year saw the introduction of scheduled air services to Hong Kong by Virgin Atlantic Airways in February, Pacific East Asia Cargo Airlines in May, Atlas Air in June, Martinair in July, American International Airways in August and Ansett International Limited in September. As a result, the number of scheduled airlines serving Hong Kong increased to 60. During the year, these airlines together operated about 1 300 direct round-trip services weekly between Hong Kong and some 100 other cities. In addition to the scheduled services, an average of 250 non-scheduled flights were operated by both scheduled and non- scheduled airlines each week.
Under specific authorisation from the British Government, the Hong Kong Government continues to negotiate air services agreements (ASAs) and hold regular air services consultations with foreign aviation partners, to review and update current bilateral arrange- ments to cope with changing market circumstances. In 1994, 25 rounds of air services negotiations were held with 17 countries. So far, Hong Kong has signed 10 ASAs with its aviation partners.
In 1994, the Air Transport Licensing Authority granted seven licences to Hong Kong airlines: six to CPA and one to Dragonair. At the end of the year, CPA held licences to operate scheduled services to 74 cities, Dragonair to 62 cities and AHK to 37 cities.