CNN.com - A first: New York to Hong Kong, nonstop


CEO Gordon Bethune hopes Continental's flight will compete with Cathay

By Alex Frew McMillan
CNN.com Senior writer

HONG KONG, China - Continental Airlines on Friday landed the first nonstop flight between Newark, New Jersey and Hong Kong.

The airline is the first to link the two cities by flying over the North Pole.

Continental Flight No. 99 touched down at Chek Lap Kok 4:24 p.m. Hong Kong time. It left Newark, just outside New York City, at 11:46 a.m. Eastern standard time. With a 13-hour time difference, total flying time was a little under 16 hours.

Flying direct cuts around two hours off the total time. Previously, the most-popular routes to New York made a stopover in a city such as Vancouver, Canada, or Chicago, U.S.A.

Airlines had not previously been able to fly over the pole. Continental's route required crossing through Russian and Chinese air space.

Continental Chairman and CEO Gordon Bethune was on hand in Hong Kong to welcome the flight. He said he hoped the flight would compete well with Cathay Pacific's flights via Vancouver.

He also told CNN's Asia Business Morning that he hoped U.S. regulators would prevent the pending United Airlines-U.S. Airways merger.

Bethune admitted Continental was in "exploratory talks" for a business union with Delta Airlines. But he said he hopes regulators will render that unnecessary by blocking an "attempt at a cabal" between American Airlines, United and U.S. Airways.

Popular with business, little effect on leisure


One analyst said the route will attract executives rather than tourists

The nonstop New York-Hong Kong flights are expected to be popular with business travelers. Given the time change and long flight, many find the trip inconvenient.

Tiffany Co, head of airline research for Salomon Smith Barney, said the two-hour time difference might encourage executives to make the trip. Co does not expect the nonstop option to lead to any significant increase in leisure travel.

United Airlines will introduce a competing nonstop service flying into New York City's John F. Kennedy Airport as of April 2.

Both airlines give a scheduled flying time of 15 hours and 40 minutes from Hong Kong to the New York City area. The trip is slightly shorter in the other direction.

The flight covers more than 7,300 nautical miles.

United and Continental are offering promotional fares around $770, or around HK$6,000. Normal New York-Hong Kong fares have been around the $1,000, or HK$8,000.

Co said the nonstop flights would likely hurt Cathay's business, possibly cutting into profits this year. The current economic slowdown is already likely to lead to a slowdown in travel.

"This was a very competitive, very profitable route for Cathay," Co said. "Now you're going to see more competition in the market."

As yet, Cathay has not announced a competing nonstop flight.

"We have been monitoring the development of the Hong Kong nonstop service," said Lisa Wong, a Cathay Pacific spokeswoman. She said the company is "considering the issue."

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