Cathay Airlines Touches Down in San Francisco
February 25, 2005
SAN FRANCISCO — To the clamor of lion dancers and a throng of media, Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways officially opened its U.S. headquarters in San Francisco. The opening marked Cathay Pacific’s return to the area after a 15-year absence when the airline left for Los Angeles.
The new headquarters’ 27-person staff — the bulk of whom are Asian American — will focus on exploiting long-standing cultural and economic ties between the San Francisco Bay Area and Hong Kong in order to increase the company’s market share.
“This is a critical business- and leisure-travel market for us, and as one of the primary gateways to Asia, we see San Francisco becoming only more important,” said Tony Tyler, chief operating officer of Cathay Pacific.
Among those attending the high-energy event were San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom; Chinese Consul General Peng Keyu; Betty Ho, acting director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office; Bill Lee, San Francisco city administrative officer; and John Martin, airport director.
“This is a wonderful day for us in San Francisco,” said Newsom during his remarks to the assembled crowd. “I’m sure the strong and important Chinese community here had an important role in their decision.”
Since 1998, Cathay Pacific has flown a daily non-stop route from San Francisco to Hong Kong.
“The city is absolutely delighted that Cathay Pacific has returned,” noted Lee, the city’s highest-ranking appointed Asian Pacific American in public office. “The mayor showed that we are willing to be aggressive in making sure that people know we are the main player when it comes to the Pacific Rim and connecting East and West.”
— AsianWeek Staff Report
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