Full History Of Cathay Pacific In Timeline From 1945

1945: Purchase of first aircraft

In 1945, Roy Farrell purchased the airline's first aircraft, a Douglas DC-3, nicknamed Betsy, at Bush Field, New York City.

May 1946: Company relocation to Hong Kong

On 11 May 1946, the company relocated, flying its two planes to Hong Kong, after instances where the company's planes were detained by authorities in Shanghai.

August 1946: Sister company incorporated

On 28 August 1946, The Roy Farrell Export Import Company (Hong Kong) Limited, a sister company, was incorporated and chartered some flights from Cathay.

September 1946: Cathay Pacific Airways founded in Hong Kong

On 24 September 1946, Cathay Pacific Airways was founded in Hong Kong by Sydney "Syd" de Kantzow and Roy Farrell, along with initial shareholders Neil Buchanan, Donald Brittan Evans, and Robert "Bob" Stanley Russell. Also on 24 September 1946, Farrell and de Kantzow re-registered their business in Hong Kong as Cathay Pacific Airways Limited.

1947: Fleet expansion

By 1947, Cathay Pacific had expanded its fleet to include five additional DC-3s and two Vickers Catalina seaplanes.

1948: New legal person incorporated

In 1948, a new legal person of Cathay Pacific Airways was incorporated, with John Swire & Sons, China Navigation Company, and Australian National Airways becoming the new shareholders. The old legal person was renamed Cathay Pacific Holdings.

January 1950: Start of freight services

On 28 January 1950, Cathay Pacific began freight services from Sydney to Shanghai, after Farrell and Russell obtained a license to carry freight earlier that month. Its first commercial flight was a shipment of Australian goods.

1950: Establishment of HAECO

In 1950, HAECO, an aeroplane repair service company, was established under Swire.

1951: De Kantzow's departure

In 1951, de Kantzow remained in Cathay Pacific until this year after Swire's management took over.

July 1959: Acquisition of Hong Kong Airways

On July 1, 1959, Cathay Pacific acquired Hong Kong Airways.

1959: Acquisition of Hong Kong Airways

In 1959, Cathay Pacific acquired Hong Kong Airways, becoming the dominant airline in Hong Kong.

1962: Double digit growth

Between 1962 and 1967, Cathay Pacific recorded double digit growth on average every year.

1964: Millionth passenger and first jet aircraft

In 1964, Cathay Pacific carried its one millionth passenger and acquired its first jet engine aircraft, the Convair 880.

1967: All jet airline

In 1967, Cathay Pacific became an all jet airline with the replacement of its last Lockheed L-188 Electra with a Convair 880.

June 1971: "Lettuce leaf sandwich" livery

From June 1971, Cathay Pacific aircraft used a "lettuce leaf sandwich" livery in Brunswick green and white over bare metal and carried the British flag on the empennage.

1971: First Boeing 707-320B received

In 1971, Cathay Pacific Airways received the first Boeing aircraft 707-320B.

1972: Boeing 707 fleet

By 1972, Cathay Pacific had five Boeing 707s. The new aircraft colour was known as Brunswick green.

1972: No hull loss or loss of life since 1972

Since 1972, Cathay Pacific has not had a hull loss or loss of life and is regarded as having a good safety reputation.

1974: Attempted purchase of McDonnell Douglas DC-10

In 1974, Cathay Pacific almost purchased the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 to open a new flight route but it was rejected by the British government.

July 1976: Boeing 707 freighter service begins

In July 1976, Cathay Pacific began operating a Boeing 707 freighter from Hong Kong to Seoul, Bangkok, and Singapore.

August 1979: Cathay Pacific Inaugurates Boeing 747 Services

Cathay Pacific operated the 747 since August 1979, when it was inaugurated on services to Australia.

1979: Acquisition of first Boeing 747

In 1979, Cathay Pacific acquired its first Boeing 747 and applied for traffic rights to fly to London.

1980: First flight to London

In 1980, Cathay Pacific applied for traffic rights to fly to London, with the first flight taking place on 16 July.

1982: Introduction of Cathay Pacific Cargo

In 1982, Cathay Pacific Airways introduced Cathay Pacific Cargo (now Cathay Cargo), initiating the trend of Hong Kong becoming a major re-export trading port. The airline's long-haul dedicated cargo services started twice a week with a Hong Kong-Frankfurt-London service operated jointly with Lufthansa.

1983: Vancouver service

In 1983, Cathay Pacific kept its service to Vancouver.

May 1986: Airline goes public

On 15 May 1986, Cathay Pacific went public and was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.

1986: Service to San Francisco

In 1986, Cathay Pacific added service to San Francisco, during an industry-wide boom that encouraged route growth to many European and North American centers, including London, Brisbane, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Rome, Paris, Zurich and Manchester.

January 1990: Acquisition of Dragonair shareholding

In January 1990, Cathay Pacific and Swire, its parent company, acquired a 35% shareholding in Dragonair.

November 1994: End of "Lettuce leaf sandwich" livery

Until November 1994, Cathay Pacific aircraft used a "lettuce leaf sandwich" livery in Brunswick green and white over bare metal and carried the British flag on the empennage.

1994: Passenger service upgrade and Air Hong Kong stake

In 1994, Cathay Pacific launched a program to upgrade its passenger service and acquired a 75% stake in cargo airline Air Hong Kong. Its logo was also updated in 1994.

1994: Previous Logo

Until 1994, the previous logo, consisting of green and white stripes, was in place from the early 1970s.

1996: Changes in Shareholding

In 1996, CITIC Pacific increased its holdings in Cathay Pacific from 10% to 25%, and two other Chinese companies, CNAC(G) and CTS, also bought substantial holdings, while the Swire Group holding was reduced to 44%.

1997: Registration numbers and flags updated

In 1997, Cathay Pacific updated the registration numbers and flags on its fleet in conjunction with the handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to China.

1997: Asian financial crisis

Since the 1997 Asian financial crisis, 2008 loss was the carrier's first.

May 1998: First Boeing 777-300 Delivery

On 21 May 1998, Cathay Pacific took the first delivery of the Boeing 777-300 at a ceremony in Everett.

July 1998: Managing Directors

Before 1 July 1998, Cathay Pacific chief executive officers were referred to as managing directors.

July 1998: Last flight from Kai Tak and first transpolar flight

On 5 July 1998, Cathay Pacific operated its last flight from Kai Tak International Airport to London Heathrow Airport. The next day, Cathay Pacific began flights from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport to the new Hong Kong-Chek Lap Kok International Airport, which was also the world's first nonstop transpolar flight from New York to Hong Kong.

September 1998: Cathay City Construction

Cathay City, Cathay Pacific's head office at Hong Kong International Airport, was scheduled to be built in increments between April and September 1998.

September 1998: Co-founding of Oneworld airline alliance

On 21 September 1998, Cathay Pacific, along with several other airlines, co-founded the Oneworld airline alliance.

October 1998: Takeover of Philippine Airlines operations

From 26 September to 7 October 1998, Cathay Pacific temporarily took over the domestic and international operations of Philippine Airlines during its two-week shutdown.

2000: Record profit

Cathay Pacific recorded a record HK$5 billion profit in 2000.

2000: Labour relations issues and Dragonair acquisition

In the year 2000, Cathay Pacific experienced labour relations issues while completing the acquisition of Dragonair.

July 2001: Firing of 49 pilots

On 9 July 2001, Cathay Pacific fired 49 of its 1,500 pilots, following a review of their employment histories, in an event that became known as "the 49ers".

2001: "Work to rule" campaign

In 2001, the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA) launched a "work to rule" campaign, leading to flight cancellations and industrial action.

2001: Dismissals challenged

In 2001, the dismissals of the pilots were challenged in legal proceedings. The airline later offered the terminated pilots the chance to reapply for pilot positions with its cargo division.

September 2006: Shareholding Realignment

On September 28, 2006, Cathay Pacific underwent a shareholding realignment where Dragonair became a wholly owned subsidiary, CNAC acquired a 17.5% stake in Cathay Pacific, and Cathay Pacific doubled its shareholding in Air China to 17.5%. CITIC Pacific and Swire Group reduced their shareholdings to 17.5% and 40%, respectively.

2006: "Cathay Pacific 60th Anniversary Skyshow" Roadshows

In 2006, to celebrate the airline's 60th anniversary, a year of roadshows named the "Cathay Pacific 60th Anniversary Skyshow" was held where the public could see the developments of the airline, play games, meet some of the airline staff, and view vintage uniforms. Anniversary merchandise and in-flight meals were introduced served by restaurants in Hong Kong.

2007: Check-in methods

Beginning in 2007, Cathay Pacific launched more methods to check in for flights. Among them were self-check-in using a kiosk at Hong Kong International Airport and other select destinations and checking in via a mobile phone. Cathay Pacific also launched a mobile application on App Store and Google Play, formerly named CX Mobile. Passengers can use the application to check flight arrivals and departures, check in for their flights and read about the destinations they are flying to using City Guides. The app has become a hit with passengers, making Cathay Pacific one of the industry leaders in offering mobile services to users of smartphones.

2007: Types of Economy Class

Cathay Pacific currently has five types of Economy Class, different on each aircraft. From the oldest 2007 type to the newest 2021 type, each has its own unique features.

June 2008: Cathay Pacific Fined US$60 Million in Air Cargo Price-Fixing Antitrust Case

In June 2008, Cathay Pacific entered into a plea bargain with the United States Department of Justice over air cargo price-fixing and was fined US$60 million. An internal Competition Compliance Office was established to ensure compliance with competition and antitrust laws.

July 2008: Old Economy Class seats

The phased-out old Economy Class seats, previously offered on aircraft outfitted with the refurbished long-haul interiors, were designed by B/E Aerospace and introduced in July 2008. These seats include a fixed back design (shell) that allows passengers to recline without intruding on those seated behind, a 9 in (23 cm) PTV providing AVOD, AC power located behind a larger tray table, a coat hook and a literature pocket that has been relocated to below the seat cushion to create more legroom. The fixed shell of these seats has been criticised.

September 2008: Financial Trouble for Cathay Pacific's Global Accounts

In September 2008, three of Cathay Pacific's top ten global accounts, Lehmann Brothers, AIG and Merrill Lynch, faced financial trouble.

2008: Record full-year loss

In 2008, Cathay Pacific reported a record full-year loss of HK$8.56 billion, including fuel-hedging losses of HK$7.6 billion and a price-fixing fine in the US.

March 2009: Cathay Pacific Reports Record Full-Year Loss

In March 2009, Cathay Pacific reported a record full-year loss of HK$8.56 billion for 2008, the carrier's first since the 1997 Asian financial crisis. This included fuel-hedging losses of HK$7.6 billion and a price-fixing fine in the US. The final dividend was scrapped.

November 2009: Pilots succeed in court

On 11 November 2009, 18 of the "49ers" succeeded in the Hong Kong Court of First Instance regarding claims for breach of contract, breach of the Employment Ordinance, and defamation.

2009: Cathay Pacific Reports Operating Loss Due to Global Economic Situation

In 2009, Cathay Pacific recorded a paper fuel hedging gain for its half-year reports but reported an operating loss due to the global economic situation. The airline reduced frequencies to certain destinations, deferred capital expenditure, parked aircraft, and introduced a Special Leave Scheme for staff.

March 2010: Tony Tyler Leaves CEO Position

On March 31, 2010, Tony Tyler left his position as CEO at Cathay Pacific to pursue his new job at the IATA. Chief operating officer John Slosar succeeded as the new CEO.

December 2010: Court of Appeal Overturns Part of Lower Court Judgment

In December 2010, the Court of Appeal overturned the lower court's judgment dismissing the wrongful termination claim, but upheld the finding that Cathay Pacific wrongly sacked 18 pilots for union activities. The court also upheld the defamation claim but reduced damages, and modified the judgment to have the pilots pay some of Cathay's legal costs.

2010: Passenger and cargo statistics

In 2010, Cathay Pacific, Cathay Cargo, and Cathay Dragon transported nearly 27 million passengers and over 1.8 million tons of cargo and mail.

January 2011: e-Air Waybill Implementation

On 4 January 2011, Cathay Pacific Cargo became the first airline operating out of Hong Kong to fully switch to e-air waybill, eliminating the need for paper documents. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) selected Hong Kong and Cathay Pacific for the e-AWB pilot program.

March 2011: Captain John Warham Launches "The 49ers – The True Story"

On March 25, 2011, Captain John Warham, the leader of the 49er Plaintiffs, launched a book titled The 49ers – The True Story.

October 2011: Pilots Granted Leave to Appeal to Court of Final Appeal

In October 2011, the pilots were granted leave to take their case to the Court of Final Appeal. The matters to be decided upon concerned wrongful termination of contract and the level of damages for defamation.

2011: Fuel needs hedged

As of the end of 2008, Cathay Pacific has hedged about half of its fuel needs until the end of 2011.

2011: New Business Class Seat

In 2011, Cathay Pacific introduced a new business class seat, featuring reverse herringbone seating in a 1-2-1 configuration that converts into a fully flat bed with a personal television.

March 2012: Premium Economy Class

In March 2012, Cathay Pacific introduced a premium economy class with increased seat pitch, wider seats, bigger recline, and additional features like a large meal table, footrest, a 10.6-inch personal television, in-seat power outlet, a multi-port connector for personal devices, and extra personal storage space.

March 2012: Economy Class Seat Update

In March 2012, Cathay Pacific updated its economy class seats, replacing the older fixed back design. They have a six-inch recline (two inches over the current long-haul economy seat). These seats are 17.5 in (44 cm) in width and have 32 in (81 cm) of pitch.

August 2012: Case Heard by Court of Final Appeal

On August 27, 2012, the case concerning wrongful termination of contract and the level of damages for defamation was heard by the Court of Final Appeal.

September 2012: 49ers Judged to Have Won Legal Case

On September 26, 2012, 11 years after they were sacked, the 49ers were judged to have won the 3 prime issues of their legal case: breach of contract, breach of the Employment Ordinance, and defamation. The Court of Final Appeal agreed with the Court of Appeal's methodology for reducing the defamation damages, but reinstated one month's salary for each of the 49ers.

2012: StudioCX System Launched

In 2012, Cathay Pacific launched the StudioCX entertainment system, found in unrefurbished A330s, offering movies, TV, music, inflight map, and games, identical to Cathay Dragon's StudioKA.

2012: Replaced Economy Class

In July 2008, the old Economy Class seats was replaced with an updated Economy Class seat on aircraft receiving the Cathay Pacific's updated long-haul interior configuration. This is no longer available as it is replaced by the new 2012 Economy Class.

2014: Oil prices

As of September 2016, oil prices were halved from 2014 and stayed below US$50 a barrel.

2014: Largest Network Expansion in Recent Years

In 2014, Cathay Pacific underwent the largest network expansion in recent years, which included the addition of links to Manchester, Zurich, and Boston.

November 2015: Refreshed Livery Unveiled

On 1 November 2015, Cathay Pacific unveiled a refreshed version of its previous livery, featuring a simpler paint scheme and its trademark brushwing on an all-green tail, first appearing on a Boeing 777-300ER (B-KPM).

January 2016: Cathay Pacific Rebrands Dragonair as Cathay Dragon

In January 2016, Cathay Pacific announced it was rebranding Dragonair as Cathay Dragon.

September 2016: Cathay Pacific Reintroduces Fuel Surcharge

From September 15, 2016, Cathay Pacific decided to reintroduce fuel surcharge on many flights after its half-year net profits dropped more than 80% and it suffered HK$4.5 billion loss from wrong bets on fuel prices.

October 2016: Cathay Pacific Retires Last Passenger Boeing 747

On October 8, 2016, Cathay Pacific retired their last passenger Boeing 747 (a 747–400 with registration B-HUJ) with a farewell scenic flight around Hong Kong after more than 35 years of service of the type.

2016: Passenger Yields Fall and Profit Forecast Scrapped

During the first half of 2016, Cathay Pacific's passenger yields fell 10 per cent, to the lowest in seven years. In October, Cathay Pacific scrapped its profit forecast for the second half of the year.

2016: 70th Anniversary

In 2016, Cathay Pacific celebrated its 70th anniversary.

2016: New Entertainment System Launched

In 2016, following the new A350-900, Cathay Pacific launched a new entertainment system with a modern design, new content, a moving map, live TV, reading materials, magazines, news, shopping, Sports24, and more movies with 4K resolution on A321s.

2016: Refreshed Reverse Herringbone Seat

In 2016, upon delivery of brand new Airbus A350s, Cathay Pacific introduced a refreshed reverse herringbone seat designed by Porsche Design, with HD personal televisions and additional enclosed storage space on the side.

2016: New Premium Economy Seat

In 2016, upon delivery of the Airbus A350-900 fleet, Cathay Pacific introduced a new Premium Economy seat, which features a 12.1 in (31 cm) HD PTV, and improved pitch of 40 inches (100 cm). The new seats are configured in a 2-4-2 configuration, with a width of 18.5 in (47 cm).

December 2017: Swire Group ownership stake

As of 31 December 2017, Swire Group, through its subsidiary Swire Pacific Limited, owns 45% of Cathay Pacific Airways, making it the largest shareholder. Swire Group also has a shareholders' agreement with Air China.

2017: Investment in Product and Digital Offerings

In 2017, Cathay Pacific invested significantly in other hard product and digital offerings such as an upgraded website, new or refurbished lounges across its network, including the first airline lounge yoga studio at The Pier – Business in Hong Kong. Wi-Fi was introduced in 2017 and will be retrofitted across its fleet by 2020.

2017: Boeing 777s Retrofitted with Recaro CL3710 Seat

In 2017, all Boeing 777s were retrofitted with Recaro CL3710 seats. The fleet configuration changed from 9 to 10 abreast, increasing economy class seats on −300 series from 356 to 396 and on −300ER from 182/268 to 201/296. New seats feature 11.6-inch touch screens, USB ports, and improved seat pitch.

2017: StudioCX updated

In 2017, the introduction for StudioCX was updated.

2017: Airline Restructuring and Service Changes

Since 2017, Cathay Pacific restructured its organisation to be more agile and launched 13 new routes, introduced a wide range of changes to its service, including bringing back hot meals on its most busy route between Hong Kong and Taipei, designed an inflight menu that features famous Hong Kong dishes served in all cabins, and revamped its Business Class service proposition to provide more choice, more personalisation, better presentation and improved quality in its food and beverages offerings.

March 2018: Data Breach Suspected

In March 2018, a data breach was suspected at Cathay Pacific. Data of around 9.4 million passengers were compromised during the breach.

May 2018: Data Breach Confirmed

In May 2018, the data breach at Cathay Pacific was confirmed. Data of around 9.4 million passengers were compromised.

2018: Cathay Pacific's Profit Alert

Cathay Pacific issued a profit alert to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange indicating a profit of HK$2.3 billion for the 2018 financial year, signalling early signs of success of its transformation, in February 2019.

2018: 2018 Economy Class

In 2018, Cathay Pacific introduced an Economy Class featuring the HAECO Vector Y+ design.

February 2019: Profit Alert Signalling Success of Transformation

In February 2019, Cathay Pacific issued a profit alert to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange indicating a profit of HK$2.3 billion for the 2018 financial year, signalling early signs of success of its transformation.

March 2019: Cathay Pacific Announces Acquisition of HK Express

On March 27, 2019, Cathay Pacific officially announced it would acquire HK Express, the only low-cost carrier in Hong Kong, for HK$4.93 billion.

July 2019: HK Express Becomes Cathay Pacific's Wholly Owned Subsidiary

In July 2019, the transaction was closed, and HK Express became Cathay Pacific's wholly owned subsidiary.

2019: Cathay Pacific Employees Participate in Hong Kong Protests

During the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests, Cathay Pacific employees participated in protests. Cathay chairman John Slosar initially defended employees' rights, but later the company suspended a pilot and CEO Rupert Hogg declared support for the government. By late September, 31 aviation professionals had been terminated or forced to resign.

March 2020: Cathay Pacific Fined for Data Breach

In March 2020, Cathay Pacific was fined £500,000 (U.S. $639,600) by the British Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for the 2018 data breach.

April 2020: HKExpress Suspends All Flight Operations

Due to reduced demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, HKExpress, Cathay Pacific's subsidiary, suspended all flight operations from 23 March to 30 April 2020.

June 2020: Aircraft Withdrawn From Service

In June 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Boeing 777-300ER (B-KPM) aircraft, which first unveiled the refreshed livery, was withdrawn from service.

June 2020: Cathay Pacific Announces Recapitalisation Plan

On June 9, 2020, Cathay Pacific, Swire Pacific and Air China halted stock trading pending an announcement. On June 10, Cathay Pacific and the Government of Hong Kong jointly announced a HK$39 billion recapitalisation plan. The Government of Hong Kong will be issued HK$19.5 billion dividend-paying preference shares and HK$1.95 billion of warrants, giving it a 6% stake. The finance secretary of the HKSAR Government Paul Chan said, "It is not our intention to become a long-term shareholder of Cathay Pacific."

October 2020: Cathay Pacific to Shut Down Cathay Dragon Operations

On October 21, 2020, Cathay Pacific announced that it would shut down all operations of Cathay Dragon and merge it with its parent company due to the lack of customers and heavy economic problems brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Cathay Pacific and HK Express would take over Cathay Dragon's routes.

December 2020: Expected losses higher in second half

In December 2020, Cathay Pacific announced that it anticipated higher losses in the second half of the year compared to the first half, citing low demand, restructuring charges, and impairments on its fleet.

2020: Retrofitting fleet with Wi-Fi

By 2020 Wi-Fi was introduced in 2017 and will be retrofitted across its fleet.

2020: Cathay Dragon ceases operations

In 2020, Cathay Dragon, a wholly-owned subsidiary airline, ceased its operations from its Hong Kong base to 44 destinations in the Asia-Pacific region.

2020: Record Annual Loss

In 2020, Cathay Pacific posted a record annual loss of US$2.8 billion.

2020: Losses in 2020

In June 2021, Cathay Pacific said that losses in 1H 2021 were expected to be lower than US$1.27 billion in 2020.

April 2021: Job Cuts Begin

On 22 April 2021, Cathay Pacific began its job cuts by closing its Canada pilot base. On the same day they began consultation with pilots at their Australia and New Zealand pilot bases regarding base closure in those jurisdictions. Pilots with the right to live and work in Hong Kong would be offered employment, however, those without the right to live and work in Hong Kong would face redundancy. On the same day, the company announced that they would review its bases in Europe and the United States later in the year.

May 2021: Frankfurt Pilot Base Closing

On 12 May 2021, Cathay Pacific announced the closing of its Frankfurt pilot base, putting around 50 pilots' jobs at risk. As with the Canada base closing, pilots with the right to live and work in Hong Kong would be offered jobs, while others would face redundancy.

June 2021: Expected Losses Lower in 1H

In June 2021, Cathay Pacific reported that losses in the first half of 2021 were expected to be lower than US$1.27 billion in 2020, attributed to cost-saving measures and strong demand for cargo flights.

September 2021: Aircraft Returned to Lessor

In September 2021, at the expiration of its lease, the Boeing 777-300ER (B-KPM) aircraft, which first unveiled the refreshed livery, was returned to its lessor.

2021: Types of Economy Class

Cathay Pacific currently has five types of Economy Class, different on each aircraft. From the oldest 2007 type to the newest 2021 type, each has its own unique features.

2021: Job Cuts Announced

In 2021, Cathay Pacific announced it would cut an additional 8,500 jobs.

2021: New Business Class Seat on Airbus A321neo

In 2021, Cathay Pacific updated the cabin of its regionally configured aircraft with a new business class seat on the Airbus A321neo, featuring a new design with hard-shell recliner seats that incorporate divider screens and a 15.6-inch PTV.

2021: 2021 Economy Class Upgrades

In 2021, the Economy Class featured the HAECO Vector Y+ design with upgrades like a 4K resolution in-flight entertainment system, and a smaller LCD screen for flight information. These aircraft were originally for Cathay Dragon, explaining the Cordova red color scheme.

August 2022: Loyalty Programs

Before August 2022, Cathay Pacific had two separate loyalty programs: The frequent flyer program called Marco Polo Club and Asia Miles, the travel reward program. Members of Cathay are automatically enrolled as Asia Miles members.

June 2023: Freighter Livery Update

On 18 June 2023, Cathay Pacific updated its freighter livery, replacing "Cathay Pacific Cargo" text with "Cathay Cargo", as part of a rebranding, first unveiled on a Boeing 747-8F (B-LJN).

December 2023: Schedule Trimming Due to Pilot Shortage

From December 2023 to January 2024, Cathay Pacific trimmed its schedules by an average of twelve flights per day through to the end of February to avoid significant flight cancellations over the peak Lunar New Year period, due to a significant pilot shortage.

December 2023: Flight Cancellations

In Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific faced scrutiny after a series of flight cancellations since 24 December 2023, including forty flights over four days.

2023: Aria Suite Announced

In 2023, Cathay Pacific announced their “Aria Suite”.

2023: "World of Winners" campaign

In 2023, Cathay Pacific collaborated with the Airport Authority Hong Kong's "World of Winners" campaign to boost tourism in Hong Kong by providing some of the 500,000 tickets. Participants were required to register for its frequent flyer program and fill in a registration form on the date for the region the participant was in.

January 2024: Schedule Trimming Due to Pilot Shortage

From December 2023 to January 2024, Cathay Pacific trimmed its schedules by an average of twelve flights per day through to the end of February to avoid significant flight cancellations over the peak Lunar New Year period, due to a significant pilot shortage.

March 2024: Major shareholders

As of March 2024, the major shareholders of Cathay Pacific are Swire Pacific with a 45% stake, Air China with 30%, and Qatar Airways with 9.9%.

June 2024: Aircraft Returns to Service

In June 2024, the last of the 76 Cathay Pacific aircraft stored in Alice Springs, Australia, returned to service after four years.

June 2024: Cathay Pacific Voted World's Best Economy Class

On June 24, 2024, Cathay Pacific was voted 2024 World's Best Economy Class by Skytrax.

November 2024: Last Aircraft Repainted

In November 2024, an Airbus A330-300 (B-HLV) was the last remaining aircraft that had the classic "Brushwing" livery until it was repainted.

November 2024: Repainting Completed

Repainting of Cathay Pacific aircraft with the refreshed livery was completed in November 2024.

December 2024: Pilot Hiring Target Met

On 12 December 2024, Cathay Pacific reported that they met their target of hiring 3,400 pilots to bring the airline back to pre-pandemic capacity.

December 2024: New Flight Routes Announced

On 5 December 2024, Cathay Pacific announced it will launch two direct flights to Munich, Germany and Brussels, Belgium in the summer of 2025.

2024: Aria Suite Installation

Since 2024, Cathay Pacific has been installing the Aria Suite on their Boeing 777-300ERs.

January 2025: Pilot Hiring Plans

On 12 December 2024, Cathay Pacific reported that they are planning to add another 100 pilots in January 2025.

April 2025: Dallas/Fort Worth Route

On 5 December 2024, it was announced that Cathay Pacific will be introducing a new route between Hong Kong and Dallas/Fort Worth, to commence in April 2025. The route will mark the airline's longest route (7,058 nautical miles) and will be operated four times weekly on its Airbus A350-1000.

November 2025: Intention to buy back Qatar Airways stake

In November 2025, Cathay Pacific announced its intention to buy back Qatar Airways' stake.

November 2025: Resumption of Adelaide Services

In autumn 2025, Cathay Pacific announced the resumption of services to Adelaide starting on 11 November 2025, which had been originally suspended due to COVID-19. The service will operate three times weekly as part of the winter seasonal schedule.

2025: Airline ranking

As of 2025, Skytrax ranks Cathay Pacific as a 5-star airline and the third best airline in the world.

2025: Route Expansion Announced

In 2025, Cathay Pacific announced its return to Rome, Brussels and Hyderabad, along with new routes to Munich and Dallas, marking its 12th destination in Europe and 8th in North America. A new route to Urumqi, China, will be the airline's longest route into mainland China. With these additions, the Cathay Pacific Group serves over 100 destinations worldwide, surpassing pre-pandemic figures.