Cathay Cargo commemorates DB Schenker’s membership of its Corporate SAF Programme with a signing ceremony

DB Schenker is the newest and biggest contributor to Cathay’s carbon-reduction programme.

Cathay Cargo and DB Schenker jointly held a signing ceremony on 8 October at the airline’s Cathay City headquarters to mark the global forwarder’s membership of the Cathay Corporate Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Programme.

Attended by Cathay Director Cargo Tom Owen and DB Schenker Vice President Global Carrier Relation Susanne Stemmer, the ceremony marked DB Schenker’s stride forward in July to become the biggest contributor to the programme, underscoring both parties’ commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

Speaking at the ceremony, Owen said: “We are delighted to welcome DB Schenker here not only as the newest member of the Cathay Corporate SAF Programme, but also as its biggest contributor. It is great to have this level of support from such an important player in the air cargo industry as we work together to decarbonise aviation. This ceremony marks our appreciation for DB Schenker’s significant contribution to our collective efforts to fly Greener Together.”

The Cathay Corporate SAF Programme was established in 2022 to help tackle climate change. It enables members to purchase SAF for uplift on Cathay Pacific and Cathay Cargo flights from Hong Kong and other ports on the network. By joining and committing to buy 878 tonnes of SAF (equivalent to 290,000 US gallons), DB Schenker will help reduce more than 2,600 tonnes in carbon emissions.

Cathay Pacific introduces additional flights from Colombo, Sri Lanka

Enhancing convenience for Sri Lankan customers travelling to Hong Kong and beyond

Hong Kong’s home carrier Cathay Pacific has announced a new winter schedule for 2024-2025. The airline will be operating four return flights per week — up from the current three — between Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport and Hong Kong from 2 January 2025 to 1 March 2025, with plans to further

increase the frequency to five return flights per week from 2 March 2025 to 30 March 2025. These flights will be operated by the airline’s Airbus A330 aircraft, equipped with flatbeds in Business class, as well as Premium Economy and Economy cabins.

Customers wishing to continue their journey to onward destinations can connect onto flights to other cities in the Greater Bay Area as well as popular destinations in the Chinese Mainland, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand via Cathay Pacific’s home hub, Hong Kong.

Cathay Pacific to launch new route to Dallas Fort Worth

Cathay Pacific is pleased to announce it is further expanding its North America network with the launch of non-stop flights between Hong Kong and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) for the very first time. The new service, scheduled to commence on 24 April 2025, marks Cathay Pacific’s sixth passenger destination in the United States and eighth in North America, further reinforcing the airline’s presence on the continent while bolstering the global connectivity of its home hub, Hong Kong.

Cathay Group Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “With our unique position of having deep roots in Hong Kong, being proudly part of China, and connecting the world, Cathay continues to build Hong Kong as a leading international aviation hub that connects people to the most exciting places in the world.

“Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is one of the world’s busiest airports. With our Cathay Pacific codeshares as well as other flight options, customers can connect to over 190 domestic destinations in the United States, as well as 11 destinations in Central and South America via DFW, further enhancing Hong Kong’s connectivity with North America and important Belt and Road Initiative participating countries.”

Currently, Cathay Pacific operates 88 return passenger flights per week to destinations in North America, including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver. To complement its existing network in North America, the airline will operate four return flights per week between Hong Kong and DFW using its modern Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. Flights for Cathay Pacific’s DFW service are open for booking with the following flight schedule (all times local, subject to regulatory approval):

Cathay Cargo and NorthLink Aviation sign agreement for cargo terminal capacity at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport from 2025

Cathay Cargo will operate from new modern terminal with freighter parking bays that will add more resilience to winter weather operations.

Cathay Cargo has announced a long-term agreement with NorthLink Aviation (“NorthLink”) to use NorthLink’s “state-of-the-art” air-cargo terminal and aircraft stands at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, scheduled to start from October 2025. This investment in the airport that serves as a vital technical stop for its transpacific Boeing 747 freighter and cargo operations will strengthen Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub.

The new deal will grant Cathay Cargo access to cargo terminal capacity with customs clearance for cargo entering the United States, 11 power-through hardstands for aircraft to park and depart without ground-tug assistance, and four additional push-back hardstands. Each of the parking stands will offer dual-hydrant fueling systems, lighting towers for enhanced ground safety and ground power systems that will use renewable energy. Importantly for winter operations there will be infrastructure in place to support the recovery and recycling of de-icing fluid. ​

The access to guaranteed stand parking will help minimise disruption and strengthen schedule resilience during periods of intense winter weather that are inevitable for operations at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Cathay Cargo currently uses stands provided by the airport authority that are shared with other carriers operating to/from Anchorage. During disruptions that are typically caused by inclement weather, these stands can become occupied and blocked leading to diversions and flight cancellations. ​ ​

Cathay Pacific releases traffic figures for August 2024

Cathay Pacific released its traffic figures for August 2024, this week, showing that the airline carried more than two million passengers for the second consecutive month. ​

Cathay Pacific carried a total of 2,068,979 passengers in August 2024, an increase of 15.9% compared with August 2023. The month’s revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased 15.9% year on year. Passenger load factor decreased by 2.9 percentage points to 85.2%, while available seat kilometres (ASKs) increased by 19.8% year on year. In the first eight months of 2024, the number of passengers carried increased by 29.9% to a total of 14,736,805, against a 36.1% increase in ASKs and a 29.2% increase in RPKs, as compared with the same period for 2023.

The airline carried 124,236 tonnes of cargo in August 2024, an increase of 6.3% compared with August 2023. The month’s cargo revenue tonne kilometres (RFTKs) decreased 0.9% year on year. The cargo load factor decreased by 1.7 percentage points to 57.1%, while available cargo tonne kilometres (AFTKs) increased by 2.1% year on year. In the first eight months of 2024, the tonnage increased by 9.8% to a total of 970,498 tonnes, against an 8.8% increase in AFTKs and a 3.2% increase in RFTKs, as compared with the same period for 2023.

 

Cathay Pacific A350 engine fire may be linked to cleaning process

Europe's aviation regulator on Thursday linked a recent engine fire on a Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 to a possible problem with the maintenance of its Rolls-Royce engines.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) earlier this month ordered airlines to carry out visual inspections on Rolls-Royce XWB-97 engines after the incident involving a Zurich-bound Airbus A350-1000 on 2nd September 2024, reports Tim Hepher and Tassilo Hummel from Reuters.

"In-service and in-shop inspections since then have identified that a specific cleaning process available during engine refurbishment may lead to fuel manifold main fuel hose degradation", the agency said in a statement.  The announcement came after Hong Kong investigators confirmed they had found a hole in a fuel hose after leaking fuel caught fire in one of the Rolls-Royce engines of a Cathay Pacific, Airbus A350-1000 jet, forcing it to turn back to base. Nobody was injured in the incident.

Cathay Pacific introduces complimentary Wi-Fi for First and Business class passengers

Cathay Pacific keeps its customers connected with complimentary Wi-Fi in First and Business class

Free Wi-Fi services will also soon be extended to Cathay Diamond members

Customers travelling in First or Business class onboard connected Cathay Pacific aircraft can now enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi service on their flight – the latest enhancement the airline is making to the inflight customer experience.

Cathay Pacific has been providing complimentary Wi-Fi services to First class customers since 2022. Following successful trials on selected flights, the airline has now extended complimentary Wi-Fi to Business class customers on all connected aircraft, and will be further extending it to Cathay Diamond members travelling in all cabins in November this year.

Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “At Cathay Pacific, we are committed to investing in and further elevating the experience we provide for our customers. With complimentary Wi-Fi now available to customers travelling in First and Business class, and coming soon to our Cathay Diamond members, they can stay connected in the air whether travelling for business or leisure.’’

Customers using Cathay Pacific’s complimentary Wi-Fi service can enjoy the same experience as paid Wi-Fi, enabling them to check emails, browse the internet, stream audio, use social media and messaging apps, and access cloud storage services and other professional applications. Customers can connect with one device at a time, and can switch between devices at any time during their flight.

Customers in all cabins can enjoy complimentary access to all pages on cathaypacific.com and the Cathay Shop during their flight.

​Over 90% of Cathay Pacific’s fleet is already equipped with Wi-Fi, including all long-haul aircraft. The airline plans to extend connectivity across its entire fleet by mid-2025.

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The European Union Aviation Safety Agency orders inspection of Rolls Royce Trent XWB-97 engines on Airbus A350-1000 jets

Following a serious engine issue on a Cathay Pacific 5-year-old Airbus A350-1000 on 1st September, The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has mandated inspections on all Airbus A350-1000 that are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines. This is, according to EASA a precautionary measure and focuses on a flexible fuel hose connections inside the engines to check for damage. The inspections need to take place over the next 3-30 days, depending on the individual engine history. In total, 86 A350-1000 aircraft are in service worldwide, Cathay Pacific has already checked all of its affected aircraft and found the same issue on a small number of other aircraft.

“This action is a precautionary measure, based on the information received from the initial investigation of the recent Cathay Pacific serious incident and on the airline’s findings in its own subsequent inspections,” said EASA Executive Director Florian Guillermet. “We will continue to follow closely all information that will be made available through the ongoing safety investigation.”

Cathay Pacific was operating a flight from Hong Kong to Zurich with an Airbus A350-1000 on 1st September when it experienced an in-flight engine fire shortly after take-off. The fire was promptly detected and extinguished, and the aircraft returned safely to Hong Kong after dumping fuel. The aircraft was powered by Trent XWB-97 engines.

This event was classified as a serious incident, and an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex-13 investigation was opened by the Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) of Hong Kong.

EASA is the State of Design airworthiness authority for the A350 aircraft and for the Trent XWB engines. The current measures are mandated for Trent XWB-97 engines. Trent XWB-84 engines, installed on the A350-900, are similar but differ in design and service history. On the basis of the available information, an extension of the measures to these engines is not warranted at this stage.

EASA Safety Publications Tool (europa.eu)

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Cathay Pacific works with Acer and Dimerco to promote sustainability and reduce carbon emissions

Cathay Pacific, in collaboration with Acer and Dimerco Express Group, has launched an innovative partnership to reduce carbon emissions in the aviation industry through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). As one of the first companies in Asia to initiate a corporate SAF program, Cathay Pacific launched the initiative in 2022, cementing its leadership in the global aviation industry.

Cathay Director Cargo Tom Owen said: “We are delighted to welcome Acer to our Corporate SAF Programme through its partnership with Dimerco Express, which joined our Programme last year. We believe that partnerships such as this along the supply chain are essential if we are to achieve our own and the aviation industry’s stretching targets to decarbonise operations. We are ready to support all of our forwarder and shipper customers in achieving their own sustainability goals through the use of SAF, which is one of the most effective ways to contribute to the aviation industry’s transition to a greener future through the reduction of net emissions.”

Sustainable Aviation Fuel is a biofuel made from renewable resources such as plants or animal materials and can reduce aviation's greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), SAF is expected to provide 65% of the reduction in emissions needed for the aviation industry to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

More than two million passengers flew with Cathay Pacific in July - up over 15%

Cathay Pacific recently released its traffic figures for July 2024, which showed that the airline achieved a new milestone by carrying more than two million passengers in a single month for the first time since the pandemic.

Cathay Pacific carried a total of 2,008,225 passengers in July 2024, an increase of 15.1% compared with July 2023. The month’s revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased 16.1% year on year. Passenger load factor decreased by 3.8 percentage points to 85.5%, while available seat kilometres (ASKs) increased by 21.2% year on year. In the first seven months of 2024, the number of passengers carried increased by 32.5% to a total of 12,667,826, against a 39% increase in ASKs and a 31.6% increase in RPKs, as compared with the same period for 2023.

The airline carried 126,797 tonnes of cargo in July 2024, an increase of 9.6% compared with July 2023. The month’s cargo revenue tonne kilometres (RFTKs) decreased 0.5% year on year. The cargo load factor decreased by 1.5 percentage points to 58.3%, while available cargo tonne kilometres (AFTKs) increased by 2.1% year on year. In the first seven months of 2024, the tonnage increased by 10.3% to a total of 846,261 tonnes, against a 9.9% increase in AFTKs and a 3.8% increase in RFTKs, as compared with the same period for 2023.

 

Travel

Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “Marking the start of the traditional summer travel peak, July was a milestone month for Cathay Pacific as the airline carried over two million passengers for the first time in a single month since our rebuild, while the 85.5% load factor was the highest of any month so far this year.

“Such robust demand was driven by the increased popularity of long-haul flights to and from Hong Kong in the first half of the month among students and those visiting friends and relatives. This was followed by a surge in demand for travel to popular short-haul destinations in Japan and Southeast Asia in the second half of July. In addition, we saw strong demand for flights to Paris due to the Olympic Games, and we were delighted to carry a significant number of athletes and spectators to attend this momentous sporting occasion.

 

Cargo

“Cargo demand remained strong in July with healthy year-on-year tonnage growth. Across our network, our tonnage was 2% higher than in June and 10% above July last year. Given July is traditionally a softer month for demand, this was encouraging and bodes well for August. In terms of commodity mix, we observed an uptick in perishable goods shipments from Southeast Asia and the South West Pacific into Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, and increased tonnage through our Cathay Expert services using the dedicated freighters for project shipments and outsized cargo. E-commerce shipments continued to be the main driver of volumes from the Greater Bay Area. ​

“We continue to enhance our special solutions, and in July we re-launched Cathay Courier with a focus on digitalisation to add greater transparency and reassurance for our customers when they choose to send their urgent shipments with Cathay Cargo. Customers will now be able to track their shipments online. Along with this newly added feature, Cathay Courier provides our customers with speed, guaranteed capacity and dedicated handling for their time-sensitive, high-value shipments.

 

Cathay Pacific releases traffic figures for July 2024

Cathay Pacific has just released its traffic figures for July 2024, which showed that the airline achieved a new milestone by carrying more than two million passengers in a single month for the first time since the pandemic.

Cathay Pacific carried a total of 2,008,225 passengers in July 2024, an increase of 15.1% compared with July 2023. The month’s revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased 16.1% year on year. Passenger load factor decreased by 3.8 percentage points to 85.5%, while available seat kilometres (ASKs) increased by 21.2% year on year. In the first seven months of 2024, the number of passengers carried increased by 32.5% to a total of 12,667,826, against a 39% increase in ASKs and a 31.6% increase in RPKs, as compared with the same period for 2023.

The airline carried 126,797 tonnes of cargo in July 2024, an increase of 9.6% compared with July 2023. The month’s cargo revenue tonne kilometres (RFTKs) decreased 0.5% year on year. The cargo load factor decreased by 1.5 percentage points to 58.3%, while available cargo tonne kilometres (AFTKs) increased by 2.1% year on year. In the first seven months of 2024, the tonnage increased by 10.3% to a total of 846,261 tonnes, against a 9.9% increase in AFTKs and a 3.8% increase in RFTKs, as compared with the same period for 2023.

 

Travel

Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “Marking the start of the traditional summer travel peak, July was a milestone month for Cathay Pacific as the airline carried over two million passengers for the first time in a single month since our rebuild, while the 85.5% load factor was the highest of any month so far this year.

“Such robust demand was driven by the increased popularity of long-haul flights to and from Hong Kong in the first half of the month among students and those visiting friends and relatives. This was followed by a surge in demand for travel to popular short-haul destinations in Japan and Southeast Asia in the second half of July. In addition, we saw strong demand for flights to Paris due to the Olympic Games, and we were delighted to carry a significant number of athletes and spectators to attend this momentous sporting occasion.

 

Cargo

New song for Cathay.....

The new song deepens Cathay’s emotional connection with customers and extends its purpose to move people forward in life

Cathay has released its new sonic branding, Song of Cathay — an uplifting, inspirational and journey-like musical composition designed to forge deeper ties with customers and create an auditory expression of its purpose to move people forward in life.

Adding a new dimension to Cathay’s already established brand identity, Song of Cathay draws inspiration from its heritage as a leading airline and travel brand. The musical composition, instrumentation and arrangements come together to captivate customers by evoking fond memories of travel, capturing the spirit of adventure, and exuding the warm sense of hospitality that embodies every journey flown with Cathay Pacific.

Customers can experience the new soundtrack designed by sonic branding agency Sixième Son through a wide range of touchpoints. Song of Cathay will be progressively rolled out and played in Cathay Pacific’s lounges and aircraft, in the Cathay Shop at Cityplaza, and on Cathay’s mobile apps, global contact centre hotlines and Spotify playlists, creating a holistic brand experience whenever customers engage with Cathay. ​

To celebrate the launch, Cathay collaborated with the Asian Youth Orchestra to bring Song of Cathay to life. The orchestra recorded the new sonic identity at its Rehearsal Camp in Tianjin last month and debuted it during its concert “Celebrating 34 Years of Excellence” at Hong Kong City Hall on 3 August as part of its Asian Concert Tour. Cathay has long been a supporter of youth development, arts and culture in Hong Kong, and has been a sponsor of the Asian Youth Orchestra since its inception in 1990.

Cathay unveils ‘Song of Cathay’, its new sonic branding that captures the love for travel and aviation

The new song deepens Cathay’s emotional connection with customers and extends its purpose to move people forward in life

Cathay has released its new sonic branding, Song of Cathay — an uplifting, inspirational and journey-like musical composition designed to forge deeper ties with customers and create an auditory expression of its purpose to move people forward in life.

Adding a new dimension to Cathay’s already established brand identity, Song of Cathay draws inspiration from its heritage as a leading airline and travel brand. The musical composition, instrumentation and arrangements come together to captivate customers by evoking fond memories of travel, capturing the spirit of adventure, and exuding the warm sense of hospitality that embodies every journey flown with Cathay Pacific.

Customers can experience the new soundtrack designed by sonic branding agency Sixième Son through a wide range of touchpoints. Song of Cathay will be progressively rolled out and played in Cathay Pacific’s lounges and aircraft, in the Cathay Shop at Cityplaza, and on Cathay’s mobile apps, global contact centre hotlines and Spotify playlists, creating a holistic brand experience whenever customers engage with Cathay. ​

To celebrate the launch, Cathay collaborated with the Asian Youth Orchestra to bring Song of Cathay to life. The orchestra recorded the new sonic identity at its Rehearsal Camp in Tianjin last month and debuted it during its concert “Celebrating 34 Years of Excellence” at Hong Kong City Hall on 3 August as part of its Asian Concert Tour. Cathay has long been a supporter of youth development, arts and culture in Hong Kong, and has been a sponsor of the Asian Youth Orchestra since its inception in 1990.

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Cathay Group Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “It has always been our mission to connect and move people forward in life through the Cathay experience. Song of Cathay is an audio representation of not just who we are as a brand, but also the journey we have been on and are moving towards. Our longstanding support for Hong Kong’s development of youth, arts and culture is also vividly captured in the tune, which seeks to inspire communities, ignite creativity and add to the vibrant fabric of our city.”

Cathay General Manager of Brand, Insights and Marketing Communications Edward Bell said: “Music is a unifying language that brings people together by transcending cultures and boundaries. We have put a great deal of thought and effort into bringing our sonic branding vision to life, and we hope this distinct tune will strike a resonant chord with our customers from all around the world, forming a new and crucial component of the Cathay identity while building upon our ‘Move Beyond’ spirit.”
Sixieme Son Global Managing Director Laurent Cochini said: “With this sonic identity, Cathay conjures an extraordinarily imaginary world and the promise of a beautiful journey. Song of Cathay is a poetic burst that embraces the brand's strong roots and international vocation, conveying its leadership, expertise, passion, and commitment. Conceived as a timeless waltz, the piece is a musical odyssey that tells the brand’s ambition to move people emotionally and forward.”
The Air101 team definitely approve of Song for Cathay,  it evokes emotions and images of Cathay, of Hong Kong, of flight, of reputation, of service and puts into sound what a rich heritage the Cathay brand enjoys.  The music is both uplifting and emotive, but beyond that, it is identifiable as 'Cathay' or as belonging to the Cathay Group, which is ideal.  Plus, even after only a couple of plays, some of our team found themselves humming it quite some time later in the day.     


 to Song of Cathay as well as the creation process, please visit Cathay’s website: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_HK/about-us/cathay-stories.html

Cathay is investing over HK$100 billion to strengthen Hong Kong’s international aviation hub status

Soaring to new heights alongside Hong Kong International Airport’s Three-Runway System

The Cathay Group has committed more than HK$100 billion in investments over the next seven years as part of its bold strategy to further elevate its customer experience, and strengthen Hong Kong’s international aviation hub status riding on the Three-Runway System. This encompasses major investments in its fleet, cabin products, lounges, and digital and sustainability leadership as it sets its sights on growing for its customers, its people and its home, Hong Kong.

Cathay Group Chair Patrick Healy said: “With the Three-Runway System soon to propel Hong Kong’s aviation sector into a new age, the coming years are going to be an incredibly exciting time for Hong Kong and for Cathay with ample new opportunities to grow.

“As the city’s home airline, we are a key contributor towards the future success of the Hong Kong international aviation hub. Our substantial investments further demonstrate our unwavering commitment to fostering Hong Kong’s ongoing economic development.

“With over HK$100 billion being invested in our fleet, cabin products, airport lounges and more, we are firmly turning the page and embarking on a bold new strategy for the future, not just in scope but also in quality. Cathay is entering an exciting new era underpinned by our determination to become one of the world’s greatest service brands.”

Spreading its wings

This investment includes the announcement of Cathay’s purchase of 30 Airbus A330-900 aircraft with the right to acquire an additional 30 aircraft in future. These new regional widebody aircraft are expected to be delivered from 2028, and will join the Cathay Pacific fleet principally serving destinations in Asia.

Cathay now has more than 100 new-generation aircraft in its delivery pipeline, with the right to acquire over 80 additional aircraft in future. With orders covering narrowbody, regional widebody, long-haul widebody, and large freighter aircraft, these investments promise to modernise and expand Cathay’s fleet, taking it to the next level. Furthermore, the enhanced fuel-efficiency they provide will play an important role in reducing carbon emissions and helping Cathay achieve its carbon net-zero by 2050 goal.

Big Airbus order from Cathay Pacific Group

Hong Kong’s Cathay Group has placed a firm order with Airbus for 30 A330-900 widebody aircraft. The order follows a thorough evaluation by the airline under its mid-size widebody fleet renewal programme.

The newly-ordered aircraft will enable Cathay to modernise its earlier generation A330-300 fleet and expand its operations on high-capacity regional routes. The aircraft will also offer flexibility to serve longer-range destinations. As with all A330neo aircraft, the fleet will be powered by the latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines.

Ronald Lam, Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer said: “As Cathay completes the final stretch of its rebuilding journey, we are turning the page to modernisation and growth, both in terms of scope and quality. We are delighted to announce this new order for state-of-the-art A330neo aircraft. This substantial investment reflects not only our immense confidence in Hong Kong’s leading international aviation hub status, but also represents our commitment to fostering our home city’s ongoing development.”

“The A330 is an aircraft type that has been serving Cathay Pacific well for nearly 30 years. These new aircraft will principally serve our regional destinations in Asia, while also providing the flexibility to serve longer-haul destinations as required. The improved fuel  efficiency of these A330neos, together with their high standards of comfort, will enable us to further elevate the experience we provide for our customers while also contributing towards our goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

Cathay Group orders 30 new Airbus A330neo jets

Hong Kong’s Cathay Group has placed a firm order with Airbus for 30 A330-900 widebody aircraft. The order follows a thorough evaluation by the airline under its mid-size widebody fleet renewal programme.

The newly-ordered aircraft will enable Cathay to modernise its earlier generation A330-300 fleet and expand its operations on high-capacity regional routes. The aircraft will also offer flexibility to serve longer-range destinations. As with all A330neo aircraft, the fleet will be powered by the latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines.

Ronald Lam, Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer said: “As Cathay completes the final stretch of its rebuilding journey, we are turning the page to modernisation and growth, both in terms of scope and quality. We are delighted to announce this new order for state-of-the-art A330neo aircraft. This substantial investment reflects not only our immense confidence in Hong Kong’s leading international aviation hub status, but also represents our commitment to fostering our home city’s ongoing development.”

“The A330 is an aircraft type that has been serving Cathay Pacific well for nearly 30 years. These new aircraft will principally serve our regional destinations in Asia, while also providing the flexibility to serve longer-haul destinations as required. The improved fuel  efficiency of these A330neos, together with their high standards of comfort, will enable us to further elevate the experience we provide for our customers while also contributing towards our goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

Cathay plans to bolster its ASEAN network to seize growth opportunities with regional markets Enhancing connectivity with ASEAN partners to grow the Hong Kong international aviation hub

Joining a high-level delegation led by Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR Government John Lee Ka-chiu, Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam concluded a six-day visit to three ASEAN countries — Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam — underscoring the region’s significance to Cathay’s expanding network and future growth, as well as to Hong Kong’s economic development.

Throughout the eye-opening visit, Lam toured a variety of local enterprises and major infrastructure projects in these countries, gaining valuable insights into their latest developments while seeking out new avenues to foster synergy and strengthen ties in trade, commerce, technology and tourism between Hong Kong and the vibrant ASEAN region.

Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam said: “As Hong Kong’s home carrier, Cathay is committed to furthering the growth of Hong Kong as an international aviation hub and enhancing connectivity between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland to the rest of the world. Our visit to the three ASEAN countries attests to the immense potential we see in these dynamic regional markets.

“The completion of Hong Kong International Airport’s Three-Runway System will unlock great opportunities for us to grow for the future. We will continue to strengthen our existing routes, and deepen our network and collaboration across ASEAN to seize these growth opportunities.”

Cathay Pacific shows off new inflight safety video....

Creative and compelling storytelling delivers all essential safety demonstrations while showcasing the best that the airline’s home city has to offer

Cathay Pacific is delighted to reveal its new inflight safety video that takes customers through important inflight safety procedures set against the dynamic backdrop of Hong Kong.

Told through the electrifying energy and vibrancy of the airline’s home city, the video was developed in close collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) to embody all necessary safety protocols while educating customers in an informative and engaging way.

With its deep roots in Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific strives to promote Hong Kong as a favoured destination and gateway to travellers from all over the world. The safety demonstrations in the video are interwoven with the unique charms of Hong Kong, capturing the city’s iconic landmarks, bustling happenings, world-class arts and cultural attractions, natural landscapes and more.

Scenes were shot at various locations across the city to showcase the best of Hong Kong. Customers are transported to a dai pai dong, the quintessential local dining experience, for the “no smoking” announcement, before finding themselves amidst an exhilarating dragon boat race which provides the backdrop for the life jacket demonstration, while Shek O Beach sets the scene for the emergency and pre-takeoff procedures. Other locales include the shopping paradise of Causeway Bay, Xiqu Centre at the West Kowloon Cultural District, the iconic Peak Tram, Yau Ma Tei’s historic Tin Hau Temple and the serene Clearwater Bay Country Park, all of which culminate in a visually immersive experience for customers.

To mark the launch of the video, Cathay Pacific held a preview event at The Sky Lounge, The Upper House on 26 July, hosted by Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau and attended by distinguished guests including Hong Kong Tourism Board Executive Director Dane Cheng and Commissioner for Tourism Vivian Sum.

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DB Schenker signs record-breaking commitment to Cathay’s Corporate SAF Programme

Cathay continues to make progress in growing its sustainable aviation fuel programme with the forwarding giant giving it a significant boost to reduce emissions for its cargo shipments

DB Schenker is the latest member of the air-cargo community to join Cathay’s Corporate Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Programme. With its commitment to reduce its carbon emissions through the programme, DB Schenker has become the biggest contributor to the scheme to date.

The Corporate SAF Programme was established in 2022 to help tackle climate change. It enables members to purchase SAF for uplift on Cathay Pacific and Cathay Cargo flights, from Hong Kong and other ports on the network. By joining and committing to buy 878 tonnes of SAF (the equivalent of 290,000 US gallons), DB Schenker has further demonstrated its commitment to reducing the climate impact of its air cargo activities, which dates back to 2020 when it started to use SAF for a proportion of its transport volumes.

SAF is a crucial tool for the aviation industry to reduce emissions as it works towards its target of carbon neutrality by 2050. Cathay Pacific has committed to 10% of its fuel needs being derived from SAF by 2030. The project runs alongside Cathay Cargo’s Fly Greener programme, which offers high-quality carbon offsetting through Gold Standard certified community and environmental projects.

The Cathay Group also recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Singapore Airlines to collaborate on a variety of initiatives to promote the development and take-up of SAF in the Asia Pacific region, and to highlight SAF’s central role in the decarbonisation of aviation. Ahead of that, Cathay Cargo has secured orders for new next-generation Airbus A350F freighters, which offer greater fuel economy.

Cathay Director Cargo Tom Owen said: “We are delighted to welcome DB Schenker as the newest member of the Cathay Corporate SAF Programme – and the biggest contributor to date. It is great to have this level of support from such an important player in the air cargo industry to work with us in decarbonising aviation. By replacing conventional jet fuel with sustainable aviation fuel, DB Schenker’s commitment is the equivalent of saving more than 2,600 tonnes in CO2 emissions. This powerfully conveys the message that there is real and growing demand for SAF and this partnership is testament to the collaborative ethos of Greener Together, as we move one step closer to the goal of a more sustainable air cargo industry.”

The Cathay Group welcomes back its last aircraft from long-term overseas parking

The Cathay Group celebrated the completion of one of the most unprecedented undertakings in its 77-year history when on 6 June 2024, it reactivated the 85th and final aircraft to be long-term parked overseas. 

After nearly four years in the Australian desert, Cathay Pacific’s Airbus A330 registration B-HLV returned to Hong Kong, where it will now undergo an extensive hangar maintenance check. B-HLV was the first of the Cathay Group’s aircraft to go into long-term parking overseas on 28 July 2020, as global air travel came to a near-standstill during the pandemic.

At the height of the pandemic, Cathay Pacific and HK Express had to park the majority of their passenger fleet at Hong Kong International Airport and overseas in Alice Springs, Australia and Ciudad Real, Spain. As the pandemic began to subside, the Cathay Group commenced the progressive reactivation of these aircraft. This involved the performance of a rigorous series of maintenance checks and inspections to ensure safety and performance.

Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer Alex McGowan said: “Parking and reactivating so many aircraft is a once-in-a-lifetime undertaking, the scale and complexity of which has never been seen before at Cathay. ​ An incredible amount of work goes into keeping an aircraft safe and protected when it isn’t flying, and to then reactivate it for entry back into regular service. To do this for more than 85 aircraft long-term parked overseas, as well as to manage the large number of aircraft that were parked in Hong Kong, is a phenomenal achievement. Our heartfelt thanks go out to the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department for their invaluable support throughout this process.