The chairman of Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong’s flag carrier, has stated that the airline will refrain from expanding into new routes until it has restored full capacity by the first quarter of next year. Despite having achieved 80% of its pre-pandemic capacity, Chairman Patrick Healy emphasized that the airline has no immediate plans to grow its network or accelerate its timeline.
During the annual general meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Dubai, Healy shared that Cathay Pacific is currently focused on rebuilding its network after the pandemic, aiming to return to 100% capacity by early 2025. He mentioned that the airline plans to increase the number of destinations from the current 80 to 90 once full capacity is reached, possibly including locations in the Middle East.
While there are expectations for Cathay Pacific to launch a new route to the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh in October, as part of strengthening trade and investment ties with Saudi Arabia, Healy stressed the importance of following the established timeline for capacity restoration without rushing the process. He expressed confidence in the airline’s future growth, especially with the upcoming launch of Hong Kong International Airport’s third runway and further integration into the Greater Bay Area.
Despite facing challenges such as flight cancellations and pilot recruitment, Cathay Pacific remains optimistic about its prospects in the aviation industry and the potential for growth in the Greater Bay Area economic initiative connecting Hong Kong, Macau, and nine cities in Guangdong province. The airline continues to prioritize the gradual rebuilding of its operations and reiterates its commitment to achieving full pre-pandemic capacity by early 2025.
