Macao just got closer
Macao, with its blend of colonial Portuguese architecture and Vegas-style casino resorts and entertainment, has always been a popular draw for visitors to Hong Kong. Now, thanks to a codeshare agreement with Cotai Water Jet, Cathay Pacific customers can buy their flight together with a ferry crossing straight to heart of Macao’s Cotai Strip on the same booking.
Under the codeshare agreement, Cathay Pacific has added its CX designation to fast ferry services from Hong Kong International Airport. Passengers travelling to Macao will enjoy checked-through baggage and a choice of six daily Cotai Water Jet sailings, which depart from the airport’s SkyPier.
Paul Loo, Cathay Pacific’s chief customer and commercial officer, says: ‘Our new codeshare partnership with Cotai Water Jet provides customers with greater choice and more options and is a win-win for these two dynamic cities.’
The Special Administrative Region of Macao is an integral part of China’s Greater Bay Area – a trade, business and logistics initiative, which also includes Hong Kong and nine other cities in China’s Guangdong province. These cities will soon enjoy even closer links thanks to the opening of the road bridge from Zhuhai on the Chinese mainland to Macao and Hong Kong.
Initially, Cathay Pacific customers in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore and the US can book travel to Macao through the airline’s local websites. This will be extended to other international markets soon.
Separately, Cathay Pacific has signed a codeshare partnership with Air Astana, which will open up the Kazakhstani city of Almaty to passengers. The airline will put its CX code on non-stop flights between Hong Kong and Almaty, as well as on connecting flights to Astana, the capital. Air Astana will place its KC code on Cathay Pacific services between Hong Kong and Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Singapore.
Vintage Champagne for First
This month, CATHAY Pacific is introducing a rotating programme of the finest vintage champagnes for its First Class passengers, starting with the premium Krug 2004. In addition to the vintage Krug 2004, the selection includes the 2006 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, the 2007 William Deutz Cuvee and the 2002 Piper Heidsieck Rare.
This month, the Krug 2004 will be featured on routes to Boston, Paris, Frankfurt, New York, London Heathrow, Chicago and Vancouver with additional routes to follow later in the year.
The Krug 2004 vintage was born out of an exceptional grape-growing season in the northern French region of Champagne. That year produced Krug 2004, a special champagne with ‘luminous freshness’, according to the label. Made from chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier grapes from a single season, the champagne has delicate citrus notes, with a balanced and vibrant finish. Krug calls the champagne ‘highly expressive, bright, undeniably elegant and discreet’ – much like the Cathay Pacific First Class experience.
New lounge beds
There’s a new lounge in town at Hong Kong International Airport. Located by gate 6 in the departures hall, The Deck is the sixth Cathay Pacific lounge at the airport. Like The Pier First Class Lounge and The Pier Business Class Lounge, it reflects the Studioilse template, featuring warm colours and natural, tactile materials as specified by the London-based studio led by Ilse Crawford, which has recreated the ambience of a living room in an uptown apartment.
While The Deck is the smallest of the Cathay Pacific lounges at Hong Kong, there is a real sense of space, helped by the elevated ‘outdoor’ area bound only by the roof and glass walls of the terminal building. The Terrace offers an alternative seating area to the main lounge with views across the airport and the airfield beyond.
Inside, there’s the ever-popular Noodle Bar, which along with Hong Kong favourites – wonton noodles and fish ball noodles – will offer international dishes like dandan noodles and a rotating selection of other items.
There is a grab-and-go food and beverage counter with a variety of international and Western foods, and a relaxation area featuring the bespoke Solo chairs, each with a light and power points. Additionally, there are eight showers available.
The Deck joins Cathay Pacific’s existing lounges The Pier First and Business Class Lounges, The Wing First and Business Class Lounges, The Bridge and The Arrival. The Cabin, by gate 23, will close on 30 April.
