Hong Kong - £75!

UK to Hong Kong air tickets from £75 one way plus taxes are to be offered when a new long-haul, low-fare airline starts flights later this year, it was announced today.

Oasis Hong Kong Airlines plans to begin Gatwick-Hong Kong flights in October. The Hong Kong-based company intends to offer five flights a week using Boeing 747 planes.

There will be 81 business class seats, with 278 people in the economy section. There will be free food on board, but passengers can pay for an 'upgraded' meal.

The new carrier's chief executive, Steve Miller, said: 'We are pleased to announce the first ever low-fare, high-quality long-haul flights from London to the Far East and we look forward to launching flights to more destinations in the future.

'Business travellers as well as consumers are increasingly price-conscious and I believe we have an individual business proposition that not only delivers on price, but offers passengers a flexible and high-quality service - a term not often associated with low-fare travel.

'Our innovative offering looks set to change the future of long-haul travel to and from Asia.'

By Peter Woodman, Press Association

5 July 2006