Cathay Pacific to cut back flight schedule

Cathay Pacific Airways is to cut back its flight schedule following a loss in traffic brought on by the war in Iraq and the mystery “Asian flu” disease outbreak.

A spokeswoman said today it was not sure how many or which routes would be affected.

Passenger numbers have fallen but Cathay executives are still assessing the damage, spokeswoman Maria Yu said.

Yu would not say how badly traffic has dried up and she declined to discuss a news report that short-haul routes would be the most affected by the cuts.