Cathay Pacific (CX, Hong Kong International) is planning to transfer four A330-300s to Dragonair (Hong Kong International) to help bolster its regional Asian operator's network expansion plans.

As part of its push into the region, Dragonair will gradually assume Cathay Pacific's 4x daily Hong Kong International-Kuala Lumpur International return service between March and May 2017.

"This is part of our overall growth strategy for the Group" Paul Loo, Director Corporate Development & IT of the Cathay Pacific Group, said. "The aircraft transfer will also help to optimize the Group’s training abilities. We continually review the expansion and growth plans for both Cathay Pacific and Dragonair, the latter of which will be renamed Cathay Dragon (Hong Kong International) in November."

Dragonair already operates fifteen A320-200s, eight A321-200s, and nineteen A330-300s on regular flights to China, Southeast Asia, and India.

The route transfer will also allow Cathay Pacific to focus on its own longhaul operational expansion which is expected to accelerate with the arrival of more A350-900s during 2017.