Hong Kong extends airline incentives

A spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau said: "The scheme aims to extend the existing New Destination Incentive Arrangement to December 31, 2011."

Under the arrangement, the Hong Kong Airport Authority will continue to offer airlines a 75 per cent rebate on landing charges for flights between Hong Kong and a new destination for the first six months after the route is launched, and a 25 per cent rebate over the following six months.

In light of the positive news, Air Pacific will start an additional Nadi-Hong Kong-Nadi route commencing December 13, bringing the total number of its flights in this sector to three a week.

"This additional flight will give Air Pacific's customers a wider choice of connecting flights in Hong Kong for Asia, the Middle East, the UK and Europe," said Air Pacific regional general manager Asia, Watson Seeto.

Jet Airways is also set to launch new routes from Hong Kong to Seoul and other Indian destinations in the coming year, with daily flights from Hong Kong to Milan via Delhi starting December 5.

(Sources: Prudence Lui, Hong Kong, TTGAsia)