First Non-stop Flight Between HK, NY to Be LaunchedContinental Airlines of the United States, the world's sixth largest airline, announced Monday it will launch the first-ever daily non-stop Boeing 777 service between Hong Kong and New York.The flight, effective March 3, 2001, "will mark the first time an airline has flown scheduled non-stop service between the two cities, saving travelers a minimum of two or more hours en rout," said David Grizzle, Continental Airlines' Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. The new service will be the longest non-stop flight operated by a US airline and the longest scheduled non-stop flight ever flown out of New York, Grizzle said. The 7,337 nautical-mile trip is also the longest route operated with a B-777 aircraft. "Hong Kong is the largest market from New York that is currently without scheduled non-stop service, and it is clear that most travelers prefer a non-stop," he said. "As New York's hometown airline, we are very pleased to link two of the world's leading cities." The new service will be operated daily with a 283-seat Boeing 777-200 aircraft, carrying 48 passengers in the Business First cabin and 235 in coach. |
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