Asia's top carrier, Cathay Pacific,will start to serve more flights connecting cities in Indonesia and China on July 4, citing the potential market of the two countries, local media reported on Monday.

"The new routes we plan to serve are flights from Jakarta, Surabaya and Denpasar to China's industrial town of Shanghai," Cathay's Southeast Asia regional manager Patrick Yeung was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying. The new flights will add to the existing Surabaya-Hong Kong route the carrier has served since 1995.

Yeung said the company was upbeat that the move will be welcomed by tourists and business travelers in both nations. "The flows of cargo should also get a good response," Yeung said, sounding an optimistic note.

After 10 years, the company says, it has flown some 491,000 Indonesians from Surabaya, the capital city of West Java Province to Hong Kong, in addition to the shipment of about 26,000 tons of cargo.

Richard Reed, Cathay Pacific's country manager in Indonesia, also painted an upbeat outlook despite the continued price hike of jet fuel.

"(High fuel prices) will eventually push carriers to increase their retail ticket fares, although I do not think this will significantly reduce passengers," said Reed.

He pointed to the Surabaya-Hong Kong service as an example. "It 's been 10 years now, and we're still looking good."

Speaking at a reception on June 3 marking Cathay Pacific's 10 years of operation to Surabaya, Indonesia's second largest city, Southeast Asia Regional Manager Patrick Yeung said, "Cathay Pacific has been present in Indonesia for more than 40 years.

Celebrating our 10-year anniversary in Surabaya underlines our commitment through thick and thin as a reliable partner to Indonesia in the continued development of business, tourism and trade. By strengthening Hong Kong as a global hub and gateway to Chinese Mainland, Cathay Pacific will ultimately be able to better serve Indonesia."

Source: Xinhua