Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, which will launch its first transpacific freighter service this week, says it plans to double the size of its cargo fleet in the next three years.
Albert Yau Chong-yin, general manager for cargo, says the airline will own at least eight freighters of varying Boeing 747 types by 2008, up from the current four.
In addition, the carrier might also wet-lease another Airbus A300B4 to complement the A300B4 freighter it already had servicing mainland cities, he said.
'It's a question of whether we should order more B747-400 freighters, or B747-300 [models],' Mr Yau said. 'That decision depends on market conditions.'
Dragonair, which is understood to be the target of a takeover bid from minority shareholder Cathay Pacific Airways, began mulling the possibility of a transpacific freighter service to the United States market as early as four years ago.
It will make its long-awaited breakthrough on April 2, when it launches thrice-weekly freighter services to New York's John F Kennedy International Airport.
