Cathay making a comeback?

CATHAY Pacific Airways has released system wide traffic figures for the month of June 2003 that show passenger numbers starting to increase after the World Health Organisation (WHO) lifted its travel advisory against Hong Kong and ultimately removed the city from its list of SARS-affected areas. Even so, the airline still carried less than half the number of people it did the same month a year ago. In June 2003, Cathay Pacific carried 459 627 passengers, up from 243 976 in May, but still down 54,5% on the number carried in June last year. Passenger numbers and the number of flights operated by the airline picked up towards the end of the month after the WHO lifted its warning. Commenting on the results, Don Hunter, Cathay Pacific gm for southern Africa said: "June's figures are a definite improvement on those for May and they continue to build, with the South African route particularly showing signs of a significant recovery.” (Miguel de Sousa)