Premium Hong Kong travel lifestyle brand Cathay collaborates with AWS to reduce IT infrastructure costs by 40%

Amazon Web Services - AWS has announced that Cathay, the premium travel lifestyle brand that includes Hong Kong's hometown airline Cathay Pacific, has selected AWS as its strategic cloud provider and is working with AWS to establish the Cathay Machine Learning Innovation Hub. 

The program combines AWS's broad set of cloud technologies and comprehensive cloud skills resources with Cathay's machine learning (ML) expertise to deliver companywide innovations across its global operations, unlocking business value and equipping employees with ML skills. As part of the company’s ongoing digital transformation, Cathay will also move the majority of its IT workloads to AWS.

Working with AWS, Cathay has already identified hundreds of ML use cases and successfully deployed more than 50 ML models. For example, Cathay and AWS developed ML models that accurately predict the demand for inflight meals, to help minimize food waste, and dynamically forecast available cargo space for each flight. The Cathay Machine Learning Innovation Hub will advance this work by leveraging AWS technologies to identify use cases and accelerate ML innovations for its travel, lifestyle, and cargo business lines. In the long term, Cathay plans to make industry solutions developed through the Cathay Machine Learning Innovation Hub, such as cargo revenue planning and aviation route prediction, available to other companies in the commercial aviation sector.

 AWS to reduce IT infrastructure costs by 40% and establish the Cathay Machine Learning Innovation Hub to automate operations and enhance air travel experiences

Cathay selects AWS as its strategic cloud provider

Amazon Web Services - AWS has announced that Cathay, the premium travel lifestyle brand that includes Hong Kong's hometown airline Cathay Pacific, has selected AWS as its strategic cloud provider and is working with AWS to establish the Cathay Machine Learning Innovation Hub. 

The program combines AWS's broad set of cloud technologies and comprehensive cloud skills resources with Cathay's machine learning (ML) expertise to deliver companywide innovations across its global operations, unlocking business value and equipping employees with ML skills. As part of the company’s ongoing digital transformation, Cathay will also move the majority of its IT workloads to AWS.

Working with AWS, Cathay has already identified hundreds of ML use cases and successfully deployed more than 50 ML models. For example, Cathay and AWS developed ML models that accurately predict the demand for inflight meals, to help minimize food waste, and dynamically forecast available cargo space for each flight. The Cathay Machine Learning Innovation Hub will advance this work by leveraging AWS technologies to identify use cases and accelerate ML innovations for its travel, lifestyle, and cargo business lines. In the long term, Cathay plans to make industry solutions developed through the Cathay Machine Learning Innovation Hub, such as cargo revenue planning and aviation route prediction, available to other companies in the commercial aviation sector.

Cathay Pacific’s award-winning inflight entertainment adds Disney+

Cathay Pacific continues to deliver on its commitment to provide customers with an unrivalled inflight entertainment experience by bringing them the best of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic right at their fingertips with an exciting new collaboration with Disney+. Hong Kong’s home carrier is now the first airline in Asia-Pacific to feature Disney+ Original titles as part of its award-winning inflight entertainment experience.

Beginning 1 December, customers onboard Cathay Pacific flights can explore more than 100 hours of films, series and documentaries from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic. This includes hours of exclusive Disney+ entertainment content never before available on Cathay Pacific.

Particular highlights that will soon be available to Cathay Pacific customers include series such as the first two episodes of Marvel Studios’ Loki (Season 1) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Season 1), movies such as Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers and Disenchanted, documentaries like Welcome to Earth and Limitless with Chris Hemsworth, and family shows like Muppets Now. 

Cathay Pacific General Manager Customer Experience and Design Vivian Lo said: “We are delighted to be the first in Asia-Pacific to bring the original titles and stories from Disney+ to our customers onboard. From beloved classics to blockbuster originals, captivating series, documentaries and family content, there is now an even wider selection of thoughtfully curated entertainment for customers on board Cathay Pacific.

“We are extremely proud of the industry-leading inflight entertainment we provide and we understand the importance many of our customers place on entertainment as a differentiator when choosing who they fly with. By delivering premium brands and titles from Disney+, we are continuing our commitment to offer an unparalleled entertainment experience.”

Earlier this year, Cathay Pacific was awarded the World’s Best Inflight Entertainment Award for 2023 at the SKYTRAX World Airline Awards. Cathay Pacific already has the largest inflight movie and TV library in Asia-Pacific and seatback entertainment is equipped on every aircraft, in every seat.

Cathay Pacific has also invested in inflight entertainment technology onboard its aircraft. With the Airbus A321neo – the newest aircraft to join its fleet – Cathay Pacific was the first airline in the world to provide 4K ultra-high-definition screens, a 4K video-on-demand experience as well as Bluetooth audio streaming across all cabins, enabling customers to watch 4K Hollywood and Asian blockbusters using their own Bluetooth-enabled headphones.

Meanwhile with the A350, the airline introduced a new graphical user interface (GUI) that offers customers an intuitive user experience and makes navigating content even easier. With a dark theme that makes for more comfortable viewing and reduces disturbance for other passengers, as well as interactive flight maps, customers can enjoy a truly seamless inflight entertainment experience. The new interface will be progressively introduced to other aircraft types.

Cathay Pacific releases traffic figures for October 2023

From Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific has just released its traffic figures for October 2023, as Cathay Pacific and HK Express combined surpassed the milestone of operating more than 9,000 passenger flight sectors in a month for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

Cathay Pacific carried a total of 1,684,700 passengers in October 2023, an increase of 320.2% compared with October 2022. The month’s revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased 225.8% year on year. Passenger load factor increased by 11.1 percentage points to 84.7%, while available seat kilometres (ASKs) increased by 183.1% year on year. In the first 10 months of 2023, the number of passengers carried increased by 887.4% against a 461.5% increase in ASKs and a 608.7% increase in RPKs, as compared with the same period for 2022.

The airline carried 124,469 tonnes of cargo in October 2023, an increase of 13.7% compared with October 2022. The month’s cargo revenue tonne kilometres (RFTKs) increased 10.6% year on year. The cargo load factor decreased by 8.3 percentage points to 60.7%, while available cargo tonne kilometres (AFTKs) increased by 25.7% year on year. In the first 10 months of 2023, the tonnage increased by 19.4% against a 69.9% increase in AFTKs and a 47.6% increase in RFTKs, as compared with the same period for 2022.

 

Travel

Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “Our travel business continued to see good demand in October, though the overall passenger mix was different from previous months. The elevated levels of student traffic seen in September subsided as the new school year started. However, we saw an increase in business travel as people attended exhibitions and conventions in Hong Kong as well as trade fairs in nearby Guangzhou, resulting in encouraging passenger volumes in the premium cabins. The Chung Yeung Festival long weekend in Hong Kong also drove good leisure travel demand to various regional destinations.

“October also saw the eagerly anticipated resumption of our Chicago service, bringing the number of destinations we serve in the United States to five. We are very encouraged by the response from our customers and saw strong demand for travel from the United States to Hong Kong and onward destinations, especially the Chinese Mainland.

 

Cargo

“Air cargo demand continued to strengthen across the network in October, in particular from Hong Kong onto the transpacific trade lanes, as we entered the year-end peak period. Our tonnage grew about 4% month on month and around 14% year on year, with e-commerce continuing to be a key driver ahead of year-end sales events such as ‘Singles’ Day’ and ‘Black Friday’.

“We anticipate growing demand for fresh produce from our key markets of the Southwest Pacific, the Americas and Japan into Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland as we enter the main perishables season, while demand for e-commerce shipments is expected to remain strong through to the year end.

 

Cathay Pacific and Avolon agree on sale and leaseback deal for 9 Airbus A320 family jets.

The aircraft leasing and management company, Avolon, has just agreed on the sale and leaseback of nine new Airbus A320neo family aircraft with the Cathay Group, a leading Asian airline group. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 2027 and the transaction comprises a mix of A321neos and A320neos.

 

The transaction adds new technology aircraft to support the Cathay Group’s long-term commitment to growing connectivity at its home hub, Hong Kong. A320neo family aircraft deliver a 20% fuel savings and CO2 reduction compared to previous-generation Airbus A320 aircraft. The A321neo is the extended version of this aircraft type, capable of carrying up to 244 passengers and with a range of 7,400km.

Avolon has 101 A320neo family aircraft in its fleet, with a significant order book pipeline for a further 192 of this aircraft type as of September 30 2023. 

The Cathay Group currently flies to more than 75 passenger and cargo destinations worldwide, serving an additional 160 destinations through codeshare agreements, and has a fleet of 225 aircraft as of 30 June 2023. 

Paul Geaney, President and Chief Commercial Officer, Avolon commented: “The Cathay Group is a leading airline operator in Asia, and we are very pleased to agree this sale and leaseback transaction with them and look forward to our future partnership. Passenger traffic in and out of Hong Kong has bounced back strongly this year, and these aircraft will help to support the Cathay Group’s fleet strategy and future expansion.”

Avolon is a leading global aviation finance company connecting the capital with customers to drive the transformation of aviation and the economic and social benefits of global travel. The company has built a good reputation for customer relationships and a collaborative team approach. The firm is now working with 147 airlines in 65 countries, Avolon has an owned, managed, and committed fleet of 897 aircraft, as of 30 September 2023

Cathay Group orders 32 A320neo Family aircraft

Hong Kong’s Cathay Group has announced the purchase of an additional 32 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft as it continues to invest in expanding and modernising its fleet. The agreement doubles the Cathay Group’s total orders for the A320neo Family to 64, of which 13 have already been delivered.

Hong Kong’s Cathay Group has announced the purchase of an additional 32 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft as it continues to invest in expanding and modernising its fleet.

The 32 additional aircraft will comprise both the A321neo and A320neo which will join the fleets of Cathay Pacific and HK Express. They will principally serve destinations in the Chinese Mainland and elsewhere in Asia.

Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International, Christian Scherer said: “Cathay is one of the world’s leading airline Groups and we are proud to be part of its recovery and growth plan.”

“Operating out of the Cathay Group’s base at the heart of Asia, the A320neo family will enable it to expand its services across the region with a most efficient single-aisle fleet and a positive passenger comfort differentiation. With a significant reduction in fuel consumption, the aircraft will also bring an immediate contribution to the Cathay Group’s sustainability goals.”

The A320neo Family incorporates the very latest technologies including new generation engines, Sharklets and aerodynamics, which together deliver at least 20 percent lower fuel burn and CO2 emission savings. With more than 9,700 orders from over 130 customers, the A320neo Family is the world’s most popular single-aisle aircraft.

Cathay Pacific to return to Sri Lanka

Hong Kong’s home airline will operate three non-stop flights per week from Colombo to Hong Kong from 2 February 2024

Cathay Pacific, the Hong Kong-based airline, has confirmed it will restart flights between its home base and Colombo starting 2nd February 2024. 

After a hiatus of four years, Cathay Pacific is set to soar Sri Lankan skies once again, serving valued local customers and continuing its commitment to connecting people across the globe. Cathay Pacific is returning with its Airbus A330 aircraft.  The aircraft is configured in a two-cabin-class layout with 293 seats, comprising 28 in Business class, and 265 in Economy.

The resumption marks the revival of a long-standing aviation partnership between Hong Kong and Sri Lanka. For both business and leisure travellers, the flights will serve as a gateway, offering exceptional connectivity via Hong Kong to the Chinese Mainland, North America, Northeast Asia, and the Southwest Pacific. 

As Sri Lanka continues to welcome a growing number of leisure and business travellers, while recognising the diversity of Colombo's travellers, Cathay Pacific is gearing up to embark on a new chapter of connectivity, convenience, and customer satisfaction. 

Anand Yedery, Regional Head of Customer Travel and Lifestyle, South Asia, Middle East and Africa said: “This is an important occasion as we announce the relaunch of flights from Colombo. Cathay Pacific’s return not only signifies our commitment to our customers, but also showcases the vital role Sri Lanka plays in our network. 

“In the past few years, we have invested in our product and inflight experience, including the dining menu, entertainment and more. We are excited to have our customers experience these service enhancements, convenient connections to key destinations worldwide such as Melbourne and Toronto, and our intermodal air-to-sea ferry options for travel into the Greater Bay Area. We look forward to welcoming Sri Lankan travellers aboard our flights and delivering a journey that exceeds their expectations.” 

In addition to passenger services, Cathay continues to play a significant role in the economy by supporting local industries and connecting them to the world through its air cargo services. Cathay Cargo’s expertise ensures vital goods reach their destinations swiftly and securely, re-enforcing its brand ethos – “We Know How”.

Customers can book their tickets on the Cathay Pacific website or through the airline’s travel partners. ​ Additionally, for travel before February, they can choose to fly with our interline partners via Bengaluru, India and onwards to their preferred destination.

Day of the week	Flight	Departure	STD	Arrival	STA
Wednesday, Friday, Sunday	CX610	Colombo	0045	Hong Kong	0840
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​	CX611	Hong Kong	2005	Colombo	2330

The best airlines for business class...

The Business Travel Index from Tipalti has analyzed factors such as service, lounge facilities, seat comfort and inflight entertainment, to reveal the airlines to travel on in business class. 

The top 10 best airlines for those travelling business class: 

Rank	Airline	Average Lounge Score	Average Seat Score	Average Inflight Score	Overall Score
1	Oman Air	4	5	3.5	8.39
2	Cathay Pacific Airways	4	4.8	3.75	8.28
3	EVA Air	4	4.6	4	7.93
4	Qatar Airways	4	4.2	4	7.7
5	Vistara	3.75	4.6	4	7.47
6	Japan Airlines	3.8	4	4	7.24
7	Asiana Airlines	4	2.8	3.75	6.09
8	Kenya Airways	4	4.8	2.75	6.09
9	Qantas Airways	3.8	3.8	3.25	5.98
10	Singapore Airlines	3.4	3	4	5.75

Topping the list of best business-class airlines is Oman Air, with an overall score of 8.39. The airline is based at Muscat International Airport and travels to over 50 destinations, including the likes of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt. 

Oman Air scores 5/5 across the board when it comes to its aircraft’s business-class seats, making it the highest-scoring airline in this category. It also receives 4/5 in areas such as staff service (both inflight and in the lounge), inflight entertainment, and lounge catering.

Following closely behind is Cathay Pacific Airways, which receives an overall score of 8.28. It is the largest airline in Hong Kong, with its head office located at Hong Kong International Airport. The airline provides flights to over 60 destinations, such as Seoul, Dubai, and Johannesburg.

Cathay Pacific Airways scores 4/5 for the comfort of its seats (both sitting and sleeping), as well as for their width and length, meaning those travelling long haul can rest comfortably. The airline also scores highly for its catering options in lounges, which include The Teahouse in the Pier Business lounge and Noodle Bar in the Wing Business lounge, both located at Hong Kong International Airport.

In third place is EVA Air, with an overall score of 7.93. It is one of the two largest airlines in Taiwan and has hubs in both Taoyuan International Airport and Kaohsiung International Airport. The airline flies to 30 different countries, including Thailand, Japan, and China.

EVA Air scores no less than 4/5 across all three categories, receiving 4 for both its lounges and inflight services and 4.6 for its seats. The airline scores 5/5 for the sitting comfort, width, and length of its seats, meaning that anyone choosing to travel with EVA Air is guaranteed to have a comfortable and relaxing experience when travelling long distances.

Ultimate Business Travel Index | Tipalti

Cathay Pacific completes its first overseas refuel of Sustainable Aviation Fuel on commercial flights

Cathay Pacific is committed to increasing its use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel to achieve its net-zero carbon emissions goal

The Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific is continuing to make progress towards achieving its goal of using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for 10% of its total fuel use by 2030 by uplifting SAF onto its commercial flights for the very first time outside its Hong Kong hub.

Blended and supplied by ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, this batch of SAF was refuelled at Singapore Changi Airport onto four Cathay Pacific cargo flights – CX2076 to Hong Kong on 7, 14 and 28 June, and CX2074 to Penang on 30 June. This follows the use of blended SAF uplifted at Hong Kong International Airport onto selected flights last year, and on the delivery flights for its new Airbus A350 from Europe over the past six years.

Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam said: “This is an important milestone for Cathay Pacific and our ambition to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. As an international airline, we have a leading role to play in helping the aviation industry to decarbonise and we are constantly exploring solutions and advocating for extensive collaboration with many stakeholders to combat climate change.

The Cathay Group provides an update on its first-half 2023 financial performance

The Cathay Group provides an update on its first-half 2023 financial performance and announces a plan to buy back the preference shares held by the Hong Kong SAR Government

Also a special appreciation reward to extend its gratitude to employees

First-half 2023 results

 

Cathay Pacific Airways and together with its subsidiaries announced this week that the Cathay Group is expected to record a consolidated profit of approximately HK$4.0-4.5 billion for the first half of 2023. This compares to the attributable loss to shareholders of HK$5.0 billion for the first half of 2022. This is based on a preliminary review of the unaudited consolidated management accounts of the Cathay Group and other information currently available to the Board of Directors of the Company.

The Cathay Group is still in the process of finalising its first-half 2023 results, and will publish its interim results in August 2023.

Preference shares

The Cathay Group paid the deferred dividend of HK$1,524.1 million on the preference shares held by the Hong Kong SAR (HKSAR) Government on 30 June 2023, bringing its deferred dividend payments up to date. It intends to pay all future preference shares dividends as they fall due.

Further, subject to market conditions and its business operations at the relevant time, the Cathay Group plans to buy back all the preference shares over the next 12 months.

Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam said: “We are very encouraged to see that our journey of rebuilding Cathay is on the right track. We have seen a trend of continuous improvement in the performance of our airlines and our financial position is healthy. These reflect the growing strength of our business and the progress we are making in rebuilding Cathay. We are very grateful to both the HKSAR Government and our shareholders for their continued support during and after the pandemic.

Cathay Pacific releases traffic figures for May 2023

Cathay Pacific has released its traffic figures for May 2023, which show the airline continues to make good progress as it rebuilds flight connectivity at the Hong Kong international aviation hub.

Cathay Pacific carried a total of 1,417,906 passengers in May, an increase of 2,345% compared with May 2022. The month’s revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased 1,664% year on year. Passenger load factor increased by 24.7 percentage points to 85.1%, while capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), increased by 1,152% year on year. In the first five months of 2023, the number of passengers carried increased by 3,281% against a 1,786% increase in capacity and a 3,062% increase in RPKs, as compared with the same period for 2022.

The airline carried 109,834 tonnes of cargo in May, an increase of 18.8% compared with May 2022, when our cargo capacity was significantly reduced due to stricter aircrew quarantine measures. The month’s cargo revenue tonne kilometres (RFTKs) increased 73.4% year on year. The cargo load factor decreased by 14.2 percentage points to 61.5%, while capacity, measured in available cargo tonne kilometres (AFTKs), increased by 113.6% year on year. In the first five months of 2023, the tonnage increased by 28.2% against a 154.6% increase in capacity and a 107.2% increase in RFTKs, as compared with the same period for 2022.

 

Cathay Pacific reopens Vancouver International Airport lounge

Cathay Pacific and Vancouver International Airport Authority reopened the Cathay Pacific Lounge on 16th June, 2023 in time for flight CX865 on 17th June, as Hong Kong’s home airline continues to add more flights to its global schedule.

Located in the International Terminal of Vancouver International Airport (YVR), between departure gates D70 and D71, the lounge originally opened in May 2016. The lounge measures 510 square metres, with a seating capacity of 108 people offering a supremely comfortable exclusive environment of understated luxury in which passengers can relax before their flight out of Vancouver.

 

Designed by Studioilse, the London-based design firm led by Ilse Crawford, the lounge features warm, natural materials like wood and stone, alongside softened acoustics and lighting, to create an environment that helps passengers feel relaxed by engaging the senses and focusing on well-being as a core principle.