HONG KONG, Feb 7 (AP) -- Hong Kong's second-largest airline, Dragonair, will begin flights to the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang, the company said Tuesday.

The service will begin March 30 with three flights a week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, via the northeastern port city of Dalian, said the airline, also known as Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Ltd.

Shenyang will be the 23rd mainland Chinese destination served by Dragonair, said chief executive Stanley Hui.

"By operating to this important city we shall be strengthening Hong Kong's position as the premier gateway to the mainland," Hui said.

Shenyang, which has a population of about 7 million, has many manufacturing industries.

Dragonair's largest shareholder is Hong Kong-listed China National Aviation Co., a state-controlled airline holding company. Other stake holders include conglomerates CITIC Pacific Ltd., Swire Pacific Ltd. and Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. The airline's passenger network covers 31 destinations across the Asia-Pacific region.

Cathay Pacific is Hong Kong's largest airline.