Cathay Dragon (Hong Kong International) has secured been granted increased access to the US market after the Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded its request for exemption authority and, subject to show-cause procedures, its request for an amended foreign air carrier permit, also subject to conditions.

Whereas its previous FACP had only permitted scheduled passenger flights between Hong Kong International and Guam International, the Cathay Pacific (CX, Hong Kong International) unit is now entitled to operate scheduled flights carrying passengers, property, and mail from Hong Kong via intermediate points, to points in the United States, and beyond. It is also permitted to operate charter flights to the US.

Cathay Dragon did not specify any potential routes but, at the time of its application in January, requested the flexibility to serve U.S. points, including the Territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.