Hong Kong's leading airline Cathay Pacific Wednesday announced its group turnover in 2006 increased 19.4 percent to a record of HK$60,783 million.

 

Both its passenger and cargo revenue hit a record high, rising 10.9 percent to HK$33,585 million and 3.4 percent to HK$11,980 million respectively, according to the airline's annual financial results announced Wednesday.

 

Profit attributable to shareholders reached HK$4,088 million, compared to a profit of HK$3,298 million the previous year. The results included a three-month contribution from Dragonair, which became a wholly owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific last September.

 

When announcing its annual results of 2006, the airline's Chairman Christopher Pratt said, "Business was strong in 2006, with passenger demand in particular holding up well", though he admitted high fuel prices continued to have a significant impact on the airline.

 

The company's stock price went up 1.8 percent to close at HK$19.2 Wednesday.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2007)