Cathay Pacific Airways has become the second operator of the Airbus A340-600, with the delivery of the first of three aircraft it is leasing from International Lease Finance. The second aircraft is due for delivery this month and the third in the second quarter of 2003. Cathay will initially operate its A340-600s on a mix of routes between Hong Kong and the US West Coast, Australia and Europe, and within Asia. If demand is sufficient, the airline intends to serve New York daily from Hong Kong when all three are delivered, but a final decision on the route is yet to be taken. It currently serves New York via Vancouver. The aircraft has a three-class, 288-seat layout - eight in first class, 60 in business and 220 in economy. This is almost 100 fewer than the 380 seats that Airbus specifies for the aircraft in a three-class layout in its marketing literature.

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Source: Flight International