Cathay Pacific’s new route is Hong Kong – Newark. The flight will be operated by a 777 with 3 classes of service — business, premium economy, and economy.

There’s no first class on the Newark route, but Cathay Pacific has my absolute favorite business class, reasonable people can make the case that EVA Airways is better with a very similar seat and as the only airline that serves Dom Perignon in (long haul) business.

The flight times are:

• Depart Hong Kong 5pm, Arrive Newark 9pm (same day)
  
• Depart Newark 1:50a, Arrive Hong Kong 540am (next day)

These are well timed for connections from other Asian destinations enroute to Newark, and for connections on both ends for the Newark – Hong Kong flight. This won’t really allow for any connections beyond Newark when arriving from Hong Kong so the flight will predominantly serce the New York area.

Cathay doesn’t have much feed at Newark, anyway, since it’s not a oneworld hub. Star Alliance customers will likely take the United Newark – Hong Kong flight, oneworld customers will probably take the JFK flight or connect to Cathay’s O’Hare flight (or on the West Coast, Los Angeles). And Skyteam customers will likely self-immolate fly Delta and connect.

The key thing here is that the flight, which starts March 2, is offering extremely good award availability. Of course it’s also one more flight in the New York area so I expect that it helps JFK award availability as well just as a result of greater capacity. And Cathay has good award availability, generally, both when booking far into the future and at the very last minute (Cathay is among the most reliable airlines in releasing unsold seats as awards at the last minute).

Here’s a month-long search for 2 business class seats in March (the new flight begins March 2) from Newark to Hong Kong.

And in the other direction, from Hong Kong to Newark.

As you can see in these award calendars (produced with the help of Award Nexus), Newark-Hong Kong and reverse is available almost every single day for two passengers in business class. JFK space is good as well.

A roundtrip between the US and Asia can be booked with:

• 100,000 Alaska Airlines miles
  
• 110,000 American miles (Anywhere in the US / Anywhere in “Asia 2”)
  
• 140,000 British Airways points (Newark-Hong Kong non-stops, beyond flights are extra)
  
• 145,000 Cathay Pacific AsiaMiles (distance-based)

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