Hong Kong, Aug. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.,
Hong Kong's largest carrier, plans to lease as many as six Airbus
SAS A380 aircraft from International Lease Finance Corp., Air
Transport World said, citing unidentified airline officials.
The aircraft, which will seat about 550 people, will be used
on routes linking Hong Kong to London and Los Angeles. Cathay
Pacific now runs two daily Boeing 747-400 services between Hong
Kong and London, and four weekly flights using an Airbus A340 on
the same route.
International Lease Finance Corp., the world's largest
aircraft lessor by assets, agreed to buy 10 A380s from Europe's
Airbus last year. Five of the orders are for freighters, some of
which may go to Cathay, the trade magazine's Web site said.
The leasing agreement strengthens Airbus claims that airlines
want bigger jets on key routes, as traffic congestion at airports
prevent more frequencies.
(Air Transport World, 8-1)