History of Cathay Pacific in Timeline

Cathay Pacific is the flag carrier of Hong Kong, serving over 190 destinations in more than 60 countries worldwide. Headquartered at Hong Kong International Airport, the airline provides scheduled passenger and cargo services through its operations, subsidiaries, codeshares, and joint ventures. It is a major airline in the Asia-Pacific region.

1945: First Aircraft Purchased

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

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

August 1946: Sister Company Incorporated

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

September 1946: Cathay Pacific Founded

Cathay Pacific was founded on 24 September 1946 by Australian Sydney H. de Kantzow and American Roy C. Farrell.

September 1946: Re-registered Business

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, adding another five DC-3s and two Vickers Catalina seaplanes.

1948: New Shareholders

In 1948, a new legal entity 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: Freight Services Begin

On 28 January 1950, Cathay Pacific began freight services from Sydney to Shanghai.

1950: Establishment of HAECO

In 1950, HAECO was established as a sister company under Swire.

1951: de Kantzow's Departure

In 1951, de Kantzow remained in the airline until 1951, while Farrell had sold his minority stake in Cathay Pacific soon after Swire's takeover in 1948, due to his wife's health problems.

July 1, 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, the airline recorded double digit growth on average every year.

1964: One Millionth Passenger

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.

1971: First Boeing 707-320B Received

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

1972: Fleet of Boeing 707s

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

1972: No Hull Loss or Loss of Life Since 1972

Since 1972, Cathay Pacific has not experienced any incidents resulting in a hull loss or loss of life. The airline is generally regarded as having a good safety reputation.

1974: Almost Purchased McDonnell Douglas DC-10

In 1974, Cathay Pacific almost purchased the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 to open a new flight route.

July 1976: Boeing 707 Freighter Service

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

August 1979: Cathay Pacific Inaugurates 747 Services

In August 1979, Cathay Pacific inaugurated Boeing 747 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 in 1980.

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, which provided cargo service.

1983: Service to Vancouver

In 1983, Cathay Pacific kept its service to Vancouver.

May 1986: Public Listing

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, encouraging route growth to European and North American centers.

January 1990: Acquisition of Dragonair Shareholding

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

1994: Air Hong Kong Stake and Image Update

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

1996: Increased CITIC Pacific Holdings

In 1996, CITIC Pacific increased its holdings in Cathay Pacific from 10% to 25%, while the Swire Group holding was reduced to 44%.

1997: Updated Registrations

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.

May 1998: 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: Kai Tak Closure and New York Flight

On 5 July 1998, Cathay Pacific operated its last flight from Kai Tak International Airport. On 6 July 1998, Cathay Pacific began flights from New York to the new Hong Kong-Chek Lap Kok International Airport.

September 1998: Oneworld Alliance Founding

On 21 September 1998, Cathay Pacific, along with American Airlines, British Airways, Canadian Airlines, and Qantas, co-founded the Oneworld airline alliance.

October 1998: Philippine Airlines Takeover

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

2000: Record Profit

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

2000: Labour Relations Issues

The year 2000 saw Cathay Pacific experience labour relations issues while completing the acquisition of Dragonair.

July 2001: Pilot Firings

On 9 July 2001, Cathay Pacific fired 49 of its 1,500 pilots following a review of their employment histories. This group 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 to further its campaign for pay improvements and changes to roster scheduling practices. Rostered pilots began to call in sick for their flights and flight cancellations resulted.

2001: Dismissal Challenges

In 2001, the dismissals of pilots were challenged in legal proceedings, but none were reinstated. The airline later offered terminated pilots the chance to reapply for pilot positions with its cargo division.

September 2006: Shareholding Realignment Underway

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

2006: Cathay Pacific Celebrates 60th Anniversary

In 2006, Cathay Pacific held the "Cathay Pacific 60th Anniversary Skyshow" and introduced anniversary merchandise and in-flight meals served by restaurants in Hong Kong in collaboration with the celebrations, to celebrate the airline's 60th anniversary.

June 2008: Cathay Pacific Fined for Air Cargo Price-Fixing Agreements

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

September 2008: Top Global Accounts Hit Financial Trouble

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

2008: Record Full-Year Loss

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

March 2009: Airline Reports Record Full-Year Loss

In March 2009, Cathay Pacific reported a record full-year loss of HK$8.56 billion for 2008, including fuel-hedging losses and a price-fixing fine in the US, and scrapped its final dividend.

November 2009: Court Success for 49ers

In November 2009, 18 of the 49ers succeeded in the Hong Kong Court of First Instance concerning their joint claims for breach of contract, breach of the Employment Ordinance, and defamation.

2009: Airline Reports Operating Loss

In 2009, Cathay Pacific reported an operating loss due to the global economic situation and undertook a comprehensive review of its routes and operations. Frequencies were reduced, capital expenditure was deferred, aircraft were parked, and a Special Leave Scheme was introduced for staff.

2009: Dragonair Planned International Expansion

In 2009, Dragonair had originally planned significant international expansion with a dedicated cargo fleet of nine Boeing 747-400BCF aircraft operating to various cities and had also acquired three Airbus A330-300 aircraft to commence services to Sydney and Seoul.

March 2010: Tony Tyler Leaves CEO Position

On March 31, 2010, Tony Tyler left his position as CEO at Cathay Pacific, and John Slosar succeeded as the new CEO.

December 2010: Court of Appeal Overturns Part of Lower Court Judgment in Pilots' Case

In December 2010, the Court of Appeal overturned the lower court's judgment regarding wrongful termination 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 on legal costs, requiring the pilots to pay some of Cathay's costs.

2010: Passenger and cargo statistics

In 2010, Cathay Pacific and Cathay Cargo, along with Cathay Dragon, collectively transported nearly 27 million passengers and more than 1.8 million tons of cargo and mail.

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 Awarded Leave to Take Case to Court of Final Appeal

In October 2011, the pilots were awarded leave to take their case concerning wrongful termination of contract and defamation damages to the Court of Final Appeal.

August 2012: Case Heard by the Court of Final Appeal

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

September 2012: 49ers Judged to Have Won Prime Issues of Legal Case

On September 26, 2012, 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 methodology for reducing the defamation damages. However, it reinstated one month's salary for each of the 49ers.

2012: Launch of StudioCX system

In 2012, Cathay Pacific launched the StudioCX system, which included movies, TV, music, inflight maps, and games. This system is now only found in unrefurbished A330s and is identical to Cathay Dragon's Entertainment (StudioKA).

2014: Oil Prices

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

2014: Airline Undergoes Largest Network Expansion

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

January 2016: Cathay Pacific Announces Rebranding of Dragonair as Cathay Dragon

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

September 2016: Cathay Pacific Decides to Reintroduce 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 Retired Last Passenger Boeing 747

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

2016: Passenger Yields Fall

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

2016: 70th Anniversary

In 2016, Cathay Pacific celebrated its 70th anniversary since its founding.

2016: New Entertainment System Launched

In 2016, with the introduction of the new A350-900, Cathay Pacific launched a new entertainment system, unofficially replacing "StudioCX". This system featured a modern design, a new moving map, live TV, reading materials, magazines, news, shopping, Sports24 (only on A350), and more movies. Resolution is 4K on A321s.

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December 2017: Ownership Status

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

2017: Airline Invests in Digital Offerings

In 2017, Cathay Pacific invested in an upgraded website, new or refurbished lounges, including the first airline lounge yoga studio at The Pier – Business in Hong Kong. Wi-Fi was introduced in 2017.

2017: StudioCX Introduction Updated

In 2017, the introduction for the StudioCX system was updated.

2017: Airline Restructures Organization and Launches New Routes

Since 2017, Cathay Pacific restructured its organisation and launched 13 new routes. Changes to service included bringing back hot meals on the Hong Kong-Taipei route, designing an inflight menu featuring Hong Kong dishes, and revamping Business Class service.

March 2018: Data Breach Suspected

In March 2018, a data breach was suspected, with data of around 9.4 million passengers compromised.

May 2018: Data Breach Confirmed

In May 2018, the data breach suspected in March 2018 was confirmed, with data of around 9.4 million passengers compromised.

2018: Global Ranking

In 2018, Cathay Pacific was ranked as the 19th-largest airline group in the world based on traffic.

2018: Economy Class HAECO Vector Y+ design

In 2018, the Economy Class featured the HAECO Vector Y+ design.

2018: Airline Issues Profit Alert

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, signaling early signs of success of its transformation.

February 2019: Airline Issues Profit Alert

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.

March 2019: Cathay Pacific Announces Acquisition of HK Express

On March 27, 2019, Cathay Pacific officially announced it would acquire HK Express.

July 2019: Transaction Closed and HK Express Became Cathay Pacific's Wholly Owned Subsidiary

In July 2019, the transaction to acquire HK Express 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 at Hong Kong International Airport, leading to suspensions, resignations, and terminations of employees.

March 2020: Company Fined for Data Breach

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

April 2020: HKExpress Suspends Flight Operations

In April 2020, the Cathay Pacific Group's subsidiary HKExpress suspended all flight operations from March 23 to April 30 due to reduced demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.

June 2020: Cathay Pacific and Government of Hong Kong Jointly Announced Recapitalisation Plan

On June 10, 2020, Cathay Pacific and the Government of Hong Kong jointly announced a HK$39 billion recapitalisation plan and rescue package for 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 its wholly owned subsidiary, HK Express, would take over Cathay Dragon's existing routes.

2020: Wi-Fi Retrofitted Across Fleet

By 2020, Wi-Fi was retrofitted across Cathay Pacific's fleet.

2020: Cathay Dragon ceases operations

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

2021: Economy Class upgrades

In 2021, the Economy Class featured a 4K resolution in-flight entertainment system with a privacy screen initially, which was later removed due to user feedback. A smaller LCD screen was also added below the main screen for flight information. The A321neo economy class featured a Cordova red color scheme.