The Board of Directors also announced a key decision regarding the future of the airline’s charter activities. As of the 2004 winter timetable, Swiss International Air Lines will operate two of the three aircraft currently in service on charter routes. Commercial considerations and a market analysis prompted this decision. Swiss will tap all available operational and commercial synergies in order to succeed with a quality product in the hard-fought charter sector.

The Peninsula Hong Kong is hailed as one of the world's greatest hotels, with a reputation for the highest standards of service and hospitality. The superb quality of its Spring Moon Chinese restaurant is enhanced by its elegant art-deco style decoration. Its famous tea counter with over 25 selected Chinese teas and professionally trained tea masters in attendance add to the dining experience.

More than 30 special Spring Moon dishes will be served on Cathay Pacific flights. Among them "Prawns with Snow Fungus and Chrysanthemum in a Clear Broth", which was created exclusively for Cathay Pacific by Chef Ho Pui Yung, Executive Chef - Spring Moon of The Peninsula. The unusual combination of seafood and chrysanthemum came about when Chef Ho, while tasting a new seafood dish, refreshed himself with a cup of chrysanthemum tea. The chrysanthemum and seafood tastes matched perfectly in his mouth, thus inspiring his new soup.

Other dishes on the menu include Lamb Chops with Leeks in Gravy, Steamed Prawns with Egg White Sauce, Braised Beef Brisket with Broad Bean Sauce and Steamed Sliced Sea Bass with Preserved Vegetables.

19.04.2026
Air France Inaugurates Non-Stop Service between Paris and Vietnam
Gilles de Robien, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure, Regional Development, Tourism and Maritime Affairs, and Air France Chairman and CEO Jean-Cyril Spinetta have officially inaugurated the new non-stop service between France and Vietnam.

The new Air France flights are operated with the Airbus A340-300 on the basis of 5 weekly flights, two of which leave on Tuesday and Thursday for Hanoi and three on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday to Ho Chi Minh City, saving up to 2 hours and 30 minutes on the former service via Bangkok.

"Air France prides itself on the historical ties it has with South East Asia, and in particular with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City," declared Air France Chairman Jean-Cyril Spinetta. "This cultural heritage makes us proud to be the first Western carrier today to operate non-stop service to these two major cities. In this way, we will be contributing to forging closer ties of friendship and to developing economic exchanges between Vietnam, France and Europe."

A code-sharing agreement between Air France and Vietnam Airlines, signed on 20 February 2004, has reinforced the flight schedule. Vietnam Airlines can now use its code "VN" on the five flights operated by Air France. Similarly, Air France uses the "AF" code on the six weekly flights offered by Vietnam Airlines between Vietnam and France.

After combining the flights of both airlines, Air France customers will now benefit from 11 non-stop weekly frequencies between the two countries (12 as of 27 June 2026), instead of 7 flights via Bangkok as before.