Airline entices Kiwis to Asia

Ken Chiu. Photo / Supplied

Asia is a market Cathay Pacific Airways wants to grow and China has much to offer as a destination, says Ken Chiu, the airline's new country manager for New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

Auckland-based Chiu, who has replaced 37-year Cathay Pacific veteran David Figgins, was most recently the company's southern China regional manager.

"I think it's definitely one of the things that we would love to see happening ... more New Zealanders wanting to explore Asia, China," Chiu said.

" I'm not saying that New Zealanders [are] not going there - the more the better for us and for all the other airlines operating here actually."

Short-term New Zealand resident departures to Asia for the year ended September were up 9.6 per cent to 293,700 people, compared with Europe which was up 0.2 per cent at 168,073 people, according to Statistics New Zealand.

China had different experiences to offer in different regions, including history in Beijing and a vibrant city in Shanghai, Chiu said.

"I think China as a whole it's going to be very attractive for any tourist who would like to experience Asia."

New Zealanders were quite adventurous and willing to try new things, Chiu said.

"So it won't be too hard to get them on to new destinations."

He said New Zealanders were very willing to travel "especially with the very strong connections between people here and people in Europe."

With large numbers of Chinese people living in New Zealand there was significant travel between the two countries, he said. Global economic events would effect airlines and everyone in the economic environment, not only airlines, was cautious, Chiu said.

"I don't see a lot of people are willing to forecast what's going to happen next year, especially with ... what's happening with the EU."

Chiu, who has an MBA from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, started work at Cathay Pacific in 2004 as a management trainee working first in the airline's eBusiness department.

He found aviation, the scale and scope of the business fascinating. "It's a huge logistics and service business put together."

Ken Chiu
Born: Hong Kong.
Age: 32.
Education: Computer science and math degree at University of Oregon, MBA at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Career: Joined Cathay Pacific in 2004 as a management trainee. Roles have included Southern China regional manager. Appointed country manager for New Zealand and the Pacific Islands this year.