Hong Kong Dragon Airlines - which operates the Dragonair carrier - will join the Cathay Pacific Airways-led Asia Miles frequent flyer programme, taking it a step closer to joining the oneworld airline alliance.
Dragonair chief executive Stanley Hui Hon-chung said: '[We] have actively reviewed opportunities, market trends and passenger feedback on a continuous basis and we feel Asia Miles is the right programme and now is the right time to introduce it.' Mr Hui also said passenger traffic had finally begun picking up for the first time since the beginning of the regional turmoil in mid-1997.
'In April, we saw the first recovery in passenger volumes since the economic crisis began,' he said.
He said traffic figures for the first quarter of this year were still depressed, but a pick-up occurred last month.
'Compared year on year, April volumes were much improved and May figures seem to be continuing this trend,' he said.
'Hopefully, there will be a step-by-step recovery in the market.' Mr Hui said he hoped there would be a 6 to 7 per cent improvement in traffic this year.
Dragonair will become the 11th airline partner in Asia Miles when it joins on September 1.
