ENG-2007 — Page 315

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AHK expanded its all-cargo services to the Mainland this year. It started new scheduled all-cargo services to Shanghai and Beijing in May and August respectively. The airline operated scheduled services to a total of 10 destinations in Asia.

HKA received three Boeing B737-800 aircraft in 2007 and expanded its scheduled services network to cover Fuzhou, Qingdao and Xiamen in February, Hanoi in April, Shijiazhuang in May, Nanchang in July, Ho Chi Minh City in August, and Hefei in December. By the end of the year, Hong Kong Airlines operated scheduled services to a total of 14 destinations in Asia.

HKE replaced its fleet of Embraer ERJ-170 aircraft with four B737-800 aircraft during the year. The airline focused on developing regional scheduled air services and commenced services to Xian in April, Guiyang and Nanjing in July, Bangkok in September, and Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur and Yangon in November. By the end of the year, HKE operated scheduled services to a total of 11 destinations in Asia.

Oasis operated with four Boeing B747-400 aircraft. By the end of the year, the airline operated scheduled services to London Gatwick Airport and Vancouver, the latter was added to its network in June.

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Regarding non-Hong Kong airlines, eight airlines commenced scheduled services. to Hong Kong during the year, six operating all-cargo services and two operating passenger services. For all-cargo services, Airbridge Cargo Airlines took over the route between Russia and Hong Kong from Volga-Dnepr Airlines in March. Yangtze River Express Airlines commenced all-cargo services on the Qingdao-Hangzhou-Hong Kong and vice versa route in April. Air China Cargo took over the all-cargo operations on the route between Beijing and Hong Kong from Air China in May. Jett8 Airlines Cargo started services between Singapore and Hong Kong in June. In September, China Cargo Airlines started new all-cargo services between Shanghai and Hong Kong, and Thai Global Airlines between Bangkok and Hong Kong. For passenger services, East Star Airlines commenced services between Wuhan and Hong Kong in November. Transaero Airlines commenced services on the Moscow-Hong Kong-Sydney and vice versa route in December.

On the other hand, three airlines suspended their services to Hong Kong in 2007. Sky Express Cargo suspended its all-cargo services between Athens and Hong Kong in March. Gulf Air suspended its passenger services from Bahrain and Bangkok to Hong Kong and vice versa in June. Sichuan Airlines suspended its Chengdu-Hong Kong and vice versa, and Chongqing-Hong Kong and vice versa passenger services in October.

To facilitate the development of cross-boundary helicopter services in Hong Kong, the Government has moved forward the project to expand the existing cross- boundary heliport at the Hong Kong-Macao Ferry Terminal through an open tender exercise. The tender was completed early this year and work on the heliport is expected to be completed in 2009. In addition, the Government has reserved a site. at the Kai Tak Development Area for another cross-boundary heliport. Also, the Government has agreed to allow commercial helicopter operators to share the use of the proposed government helipad near the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition

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264 Transport