cathay pacific hk travel restrictions

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Hong Kong Eases Travel Restrictions, Cathay Plans Resumptions

Cathay Pacific has welcomed the Hong Kong government’s decision to scrap some of its last COVID-19 restrictions, saying it hopes the move will further help to restore its hub operations at Hong Kong International (HKG).

From Dec. 14, international travelers arriving in the special administrative region of China will be allowed to visit restaurants and bars within their first three days of arrival, ending the previous ‘0+3’ measures that barred visitors from entering certain venues within the first 72 hours. In addition, the territory is also axing a mandatory COVID-19 mobile application.

“The adjustments will help further boost sentiment for travel, especially among inbound visitors, thereby facilitating the resumption of travel activities and strengthening of network connectivity at the Hong Kong aviation hub,” a statement from Cathay Pacific said.

The airline plans to offer about 1.16 million seats across its network in December 2022, up by 30% compared with the previous month. Subsidiary HK Express has also increased capacity by 50.1% to 178,646 seats month-on-month, data provided by OAG Schedules Analyser shows.

Routes to Sapporo, Fukuoka, Penang and Dhaka have resumed in December, while Phuket and Nagoya are among the Cathay Pacific destinations set to restart in January 2023. HK Express has also reinstated flights to Tokyo Haneda, Da Nang and Routes Asia 2023 host Chiang Mai, with services to Jeju and Busan in the pipeline for January.

Cathay Pacific expects to have restored capacity levels to one-third of pre-pandemic capacity by the end of 2022 and hopes to be operating about 70% by the end of next year. Full recovery is anticipated during 2024.

Speaking to Routes at Routes World 2022 in Las Vegas , HKG executive director for airport operations Vivian Cheung said the airport feels confident that traffic will come back—it’s just a matter of time.

“We are now at 15% capacity recovery. Before June, we were between 2-4%. The demand is there, but the supply is slow,” she said.

The further easing of travel restrictions in Hong Kong comes as China also continues to loosen its strict zero-COVID policy. Earlier this month, Beijing ended the need for travelers to undergo testing before domestic flights, as well as removing the requirement for on-arrival checks for regional flights. On Dec. 12, the country also deactivated a phone-tracking app.

Although restrictions for international flights remain unchanged, whereby passengers are required to undergo a PCR test 24 hours before flying and undergo eight days of quarantine on arrival in China, reports in China suggest that the rules will be eased from Jan. 9, 2023, and a ‘0+3’ strategy will be introduced.

OAG data shows there are 910,294 international departure seats from China available during December 2022, up from 752,615 in November. International routes that have returned in recent weeks include China Southern Airlines’ Guangzhou (CAN)-New York John F Kennedy (JFK) service, while Air China is launching a Shanghai (PVG)-Athens (ATH) service.

David Casey is Editor in Chief of Routes, the global route development community's trusted source for news and information.

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Travel documents, visas and travel declarations

Travel documents.

All passengers, including children and infants under two years of age need their own passport or valid travel document. This document must be valid during your travel period. Many countries/regions additionally require that a passport is valid for 3 or 6 months beyond the end of your trip. Processing times for passports vary but many countries offer fast-track applications.

Visit the  IATA Travel Centre , Link opens in a new window operated by external parties and may not conform to the same accessibility policies as Cathay Pacific website for specific destination requirements on passport validity.

You may need a visa in order to enter your chosen destination, depending on:

• your nationality
• the purpose of your trip
• your connecting flights

Visit the IATA Travel Centre , Link opens in a new window operated by external parties and may not conform to the same accessibility policies as Cathay Pacific website to check whether you need a visa and the relevant fees.

If a visa is required for your trip to a certain country/region, you can apply directly at a consular office of that country/region. Many countries/regions also offer an online application process.

Travel requirements

Before you travel, make sure to check the latest travel, passport and visa requirements to ensure you’re eligible to fly. We also highly recommend checking the official government website of your destination country/region for the latest information.

Travel restrictions are provided by Sherpa and should be used as a guideline only. For the latest information, please refer to the official government website of your destination country. Visit Copyright and Disclaimer to learn more about our policy for third party sites.

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Please ensure you complete the necessary forms prior to arriving at your destination so that your airport experience is a smooth one.

Visit our Travel declaration forms page for more information.

Controlled items

There are certain items that you are welcome to bring on board provided you follow our guidelines. Because we only fly to airports with thorough security checks, your items will be confiscated if they do not meet the requirements. Please read carefully over our advice to ensure your luggage complies with the regulations.

Rules for all baggage

You may bring the following items in either your check in or cabin baggage, providing the guidelines are followed.

While we do have universal standards, regulations on travelling with liquids, aerosols, gels, and powders in your cabin luggage may vary depending on your flight route. Please visit our dedicated page for more information, including regulations on Duty Free liquid items.

Pack your commercial or lithium batteries in the safest way possible with our list of helpful tips and regulations. See more about spare batteries

Bringing home a little treat from your holidays? You may bring alcoholic beverages back with you, as long as they are in their retail packaging, with an alcoholic content of 24-70%. Each passenger is entitled to a total net quantity of 5 litres per person, either in your checked or cabin baggage. If your drinks have 24% or less alcohol content, they are not governed by the prior restrictions. Please be aware that if you take alcoholic items in your hand luggage,  rules for liquids, aerosols and gases  still apply.

Note: Different countries have their local customs regulations for bringing alcoholic beverages into the country. You are advised to check with the relevant authorities of the country you are travelling to if you plan to carry alcohol beverages in your cabin or checked bag.

Please note: Each country has their own regulations regarding alcohol-based disinfectants on board. Please check with the relevant authorities of the country you’re travelling to.

You may bring liquids, aerosols, and gels in your cabin luggage as long as they do not exceed a maximum volume of 100ml for each item. These should be carried in one resealable, transparent plastic bag no more than 1L in capacity per passenger.

Items exceeding stated amounts should be packed into your checked bags. The total net quantity must not exceed 2kg or 2L per passenger, and the net quantity of each single item must not exceed 0.5kg or 0.5L.

With the exception of China, Bangladesh and India, a passenger can carry one small packet of safety matches or a cigarette lighter on one’s person, which is intended for use by the individual only. If you’re travelling to/from USA, you may not travel with torch lighters. Please refer to the TSA website , Link opens in a new window operated by external parties and may not conform to the same accessibility policies as Cathay Pacific for more information.

Please note: lighter fuel and refills are classed as a  banned item .

Inflated objects, including inflated balls for sporting purposes such as basketballs, can only be accepted in checked or cabin baggage if it is deflated.

Different countries have their local customs requirements for importing food items into the countries. You are advised to check with the relevant authorities of the country you are travelling to if you plan to carry food items in your cabin or checked baggage. 

Note: If you are travelling on other airlines in your itinerary, please check with each airline for their policy.

Banned fruit items

Please note that most fruit items may be carried into the cabin as long as they are within our cabin baggage limitation – with the exception of durian and jackfruit, which are universally banned in aircraft cabins. Additionally, durian fruit are not allowed in checked baggage due to the strong smells emitted, regardless of how they have been packaged.

Please note that batteries and heating elements must be isolated in battery-powered heat producing articles by removal of the heating element, battery or other components.

Examples: diving lamps, heat generating jackets, hair irons

From 1 January 2018 , smart bags with integrated lithium batteries for the purpose of charging an external device or to provide power to the wheels of the bag with non-removable lithium batteries will not be accepted as cabin baggage or Check in baggage .

These type of smart bags will not be considered as a portable electronic device (PED); their batteries will be handled as a power bank or spare lithium battery .

Controlled items allowed in cabin baggage

The following items cannot be packed in your checked baggage but are allowed in your hand baggage, provided you meet the requirements.

An electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) often runs with a battery and simulates tobacco smoking using heated vapour. Each device has a heating element that creates smoke known as a personal vaporiser or electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS). Electronic cigarettes can only be carried on board either on one’s person or in your cabin baggage. It must not be used on the plane and must not be placed in your checked luggage. Recharging electronic cigarettes or its batteries on board is not permitted.

Electronic cigarettes must be individually protected to prevent accidental activation.

Please note the import of electronic cigarettes into Hong Kong, India, Singapore and Taiwan is prohibited. More details on specific e-cigarette bans for each of these countries can be found on our Banned items page .

Controlled items allowed in check in baggage

The following items are not allowed in your cabin baggage but you may pack them in your check in baggage, provided you meet the requirements.

Please check with the Civil Aviation Department , Link opens in a new window operated by external parties and may not conform to the same accessibility policies as Cathay Pacific of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Police department , Link opens in a new window operated by external parties and may not conform to the same accessibility policies as Cathay Pacific ; if you plan to put any of these items into your checked bags.

Devices capable (or appearing capable) of being used to cause serious injury by discharging a projectile, including:

• firearms of all types, such as pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns
• toy guns, replicas and imitation firearms capable of being mistaken for real weapons
• component parts of firearms, excluding telescopic sights
• compressed air and CO2 guns, such as pistols, pellet guns, rifles and ball bearing guns
• signal flare pistols and starter pistols
• bows, cross bows and arrows
• harpoon guns and spear guns
• slingshots and catapults

Any passenger planning to travel with firearms should get in touch with our  Customer Care team for further details.

Objects with a sharp point or sharp edge capable of being used to cause serious injury, including:

• items designed for chopping, such as axes, hatchets and cleavers
• ice axes and ice picks
• razor blades
• box cutters
• Knives with blade of any length (except knives with round-ended blunt tip)
• scissors with blades of more than 6cm as measured from the fulcrum
• martial arts equipment with a sharp point or sharp edge
• swords and sabres

*only for flights departing from the Philippines

Please note carrying certain knives without a reasonable excuse may be criminal offence. If you encounter a knife such as a butterfly, flick or lock knife of any length police assistance should be sought in line with local procedures.

Tools capable of being used either to cause serious injury or to threaten the safety of aircraft, including:

• drills and drill bits, including cordless portable power drills
• tools with a blade or a shaft of more than 6 cm capable of use as weapon, such as screwdrivers and chisels
• saws, including cordless portable power saws
• blowtorches
• bolt guns and nail guns

Objects capable of being used to cause serious injury when used to hit, including:

• baseball and softball bats
• clubs and batons, such as billy clubs, blackjacks and night sticks
• martial arts equipment

Controlled items requiring visual verification

There are certain items that you are welcome to bring on board in your checked and/or cabin baggage. However our Customer Services team at the Airport will need to verify the items by sight before they travel to ensure they are packed securely.

• Ammunition - in quantities not exceeding 5 kg (11 lb) gross weight per person for that person’s own use, excluding ammunition with explosive or incendiary projectiles
• Avalanche rescue backpack
• Camping stove and fuel container that have contained a flammable liquid fuel
• Chemical agent monitoring equipment 
• Dry ice - in quantities not exceeding 2.5 kg (5 lb) per person
• Mercury barometer or thermometer 
• Small non-flammable gas cylinders 
• Battery-powered wheelchairs or other similar mobility devices with spillable batteries or with lithium batteries
• containing lithium-ion batteries exceeding 100wh but not exceeding 160wh or
• containing lithium metal cells exceeding 2g but not exceeding 8g
• Security-type equipment containing lithium batteries
• exceeding 100wh but not exceeding 160wh or
• exceeding 2g but not exceeding 8g 

Please contact our Customer Care  for further information, and at the airport, please ensure you let us know that you are carrying one of these items.  Once we have checked that it is safe to fly, we will provide you with the necessary approvals. 

Confiscated items

We don’t like having to say no to our customers, but we ask you to comply with the above regulations so your safety is not compromised.

Legally, we are not responsible or liable for items removed from passengers by airport security personnel. This is because they are acting in accordance with international and governmental regulations.

If you do have an item that is confiscated, we cannot guarantee its return to you. However, if the security personnel return the item to us, we are happy to store it for a total of 7 days for you to pick up. In the best case scenario, we would of course like to see all customers reunited with their confiscated items, and we do everything we can to make sure this is the case.

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Simple Flying

How hong kong's strict quarantine rules are impacting cathay pacific.

While certain parts of the world are beginning to shed some of their travel restrictions, these rules continue to impact airline operations elsewhere. Cathay Pacific is one airline that has been struggling of late, owing to Hong Kong's strict quarantine regulations. It has had to cancel several flights due to hesitancy among crew to undergo such isolation.

Widespread disruption

As airlines prepare for what is normally one of the busiest times of the year, Cathay Pacific is finding itself having to consolidate its upcoming schedules. It serves Hong Kong, a territory that has retained strict travel restrictions throughout the coronavirus pandemic. It has done so with the goal of reaching 'Covid-Zero' and reopening its border with China.

A two-week quarantine forms part of these restrictions. The Independent reports that, to manage this for its crew members, whose job requires them to constantly leave and re-enter the territory, the airline has devised a 'closed-loop' roster. This sees them work for three weeks at a time, with brief stays in an isolated hotel in Hong Kong, before a 14-day isolation.

However, with Christmas a month away, crews are hesitant to work such patterns. After all, this increases the chance of spending the festive period away from home. As such, Cathay Pacific is having to cancel various flights due to the shortage, affecting thousands of passengers. With this in mind, a spokesperson for Hong Kong's flag carrier explained that:

" The operational and travel restrictions that remain in place continue to constrain our ability to operate flights as planned. We are consolidating our passenger flight schedule for December 2021, including canceling a number of flights to Hong Kong ."

Switch to cargo-only flights

As a result of this disruption, Cathay Pacific is having to operate what would have been passenger flights on a cargo-only basis instead. The Independent notes that one in three of the closed-loop services will undergo such an alteration in light of the crew shortages.

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As far as the airline's remaining December flights are concerned, it hopes to be able to accommodate impacted passengers with minimal disruption. At a time of year when many people travel to spend the festive period with their families, this could make all the difference in enabling long-awaited reunions. A Cathay Pacific spokesperson added that:

" We will be communicating with affected customers over the coming days, and will endeavor to arrange alternative bookings on flights arriving on the same day as their originally scheduled flights so as to minimize disruptions to their journeys ."

Recent issues regarding quarantine

While Cathay Pacific is asking a lot of its crews, it has recently found itself in hot water regarding quarantine. Indeed, it recently let go of three cargo pilots who caught coronavirus after breaching isolation protocols in Frankfurt. The airline now requires crew members that have passed through Germany's busiest airport to quarantine for 21 days .

Quarantine measures have also recently forced airlines to relocate hundreds of pilots away from Hong Kong. This comes just months after hundreds applied to relocate to  Hong Kong to keep their jobs at Cathay Pacific. For those that remain, a difficult few weeks lay ahead, as the airline endeavors to get people and goods where they need to be this Christmas.

What do you make of this situation? Have your travel plans been altered due to such disruption? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments.

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COVID-19 Travel Restrictions

Many countries/territories have announced travel restrictions and quarantine measures under COVID-19. Please check for the latest update before making any travel decisions.

Latest Updates on Travel Bubble

The Hong Kong and Singapore governments announced the Travel Bubble Scheme between the 2 cities to begin on November 22, 2020. There will be a daily direct flight between Singapore and Hong Kong during the first 15 days of the scheme with daily quotas of 200 passengers, operated by Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific . Afterwards, the capacity will increase to two direct flights daily.

Before departing to Singapore, travellers from Hong Kong must undergo a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test within 72 hours before the scheduled departure time of the designated ATB flight from Hong Kong to Singapore at one of the testing institutions recognised by the Hong Kong Government.

Before returning to Hong Kong , travellers must obtain a negative pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test in Singapore . Upon arrival at Hong Kong International Airport, travellers are subject to a COVID-19 PCR test. Travellers are only exempted from the quarantine requirement and may leave the airport when test result is negative.

*For the latest details, please refer to the HKSAR website or the Singapore government website .  

Travel Restrictions Map

This map shows which countries have entry restrictions by air for travel into the country.

• Completely closed : only citizens, residents returning home, or people in other special circumstances may enter the country.
• Partially closed : entrance into the country may depend on the traveler’s citizenship, point of origin, or other specific regulations.
• No restrictions : the country has no formal entry restrictions in place, but is still monitoring the situation and may have other travel advisories in place.

On 17 March, the HKSAR government issued a Red Travel Warning for all overseas countries / territories. The following countries/territories have also announced entry retsrictions and quarantine measures, and has stopped visa-free arrangement or issuing new visa. Please note that since the development of COVID-19 changes constantly, the following restrictions may be revised very often. Please check with the local government for the latest information before making any travel decisions.

Travel restrictions of different countries/territories

1. Entry & Transit Restrictions: Travellers who have been to the 152 specified countries or regions in the last 14 days are not allowed to enter Japan. On October 30, the Government of Japan decided to remove Hong Kong from the list of countries and regions which entry ban is applied to. 2. Visas: As visa exemption measures with HKSAR passport holders are temporarily suspended, those who fall under the measures are required to obtain visas before visiting Japan. 3. Quarantine Requirements: All travelers entering Japan must be in self-quarantine for 14 days and subject to conducting PCR tests.

1. Entry & Transit Restrictions: Foreign nationals who have visited Hubei in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter Korea. Any passenger transiting in Korea must have a confirmed connecting ticket and transit within 24 hours. 2. Visas: All visa exemption entry into South Korea for 90 countries will be suspended as of 13 April 2020, passport holders of those countries/regions should obtain visas from the embassies in order to enter Korea. Holders of diplomat or official passport holders, personnel of vessels, flight attendants on board for flights to Korea and businessmen holding ABTC are to be exempted from the requirement of visas. 3. Quarantine Requirements: As of 1 April 2020, all travellers entering Korea must be in self-quarantine either in their own residence or in government specified facilities for 14 days, all travellers must install the “Self-Diagnosis Mobile app” upon entering Korea and must get COVID-19 test within 3 days upon arrival.

1. Entry & Transit Restrictions: As of June 29, 2020, foreign nationals who wish to travel to Taiwan for reasons other than tourism and regular social visits may apply for a special entry permit with an R.O.C. overseas mission by submitting relevant documents and forms. Applications by students and people wishing to study in Taiwan will be handled by the Ministry of Education in line with its related measures. From 25 June 2020, customers can transit at Taiwan Taoyuan (TPE) International Airport if the connecting flights are within 8 hours and with the same airline. 2. Visas: Taiwan has also stopped offering visa on arrival or online visa services to HKSAR and Macau SAR passport holders. 3. Quarantine Requirements: Upon entering Taiwan, all foreign nationals must present an English-language certificate of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of boarding the flight to Taiwan and undergo a 14-day home quarantine period.

1. Entry & Transit Restrictions: All foreign nationals are not allowed to enter Vietnam. 2. Visas: Vietnam has also stopped offering visa on arrival services to all foreign nationals.

1. Entry & Transit Restrictions: All international flights are banned until 30 June 2020, travelers are not allowed with some exceptions (eg. Thai nationals, people with valid working visas, crew members etc). For passengers transit in Thailand from some cities (including Hong Kong), a health certificate must be stated safe or free from COVID-19 with Lab test result (with medical stamp), and it must be valid for not more than 72 hours prior to departure.

1. Due to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong and Singapore governments have postponed the launch of the Air Travel Bubble.​ 2. Starting 22 November 2020, the Hong Kong-Singapore Air Travel Bubble allows for quarantine-free travel between the two cities. To be eligible to fly within the Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble, you must: – Have no travel history to anywhere other than Hong Kong or Singapore in the last 14 days – Have proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test from a recognised laboratory or health care institution collected within 72 hours before your scheduled flight departure time.

1. Entry & Transit Restrictions: Non-US citizens or residents who have visited affected areas (constantly updating) in the last 14 days are not allowed to enter USA. Passengers who are exempted will only be permitted to arrive into one of the following 15 airports .

1. Entry & Transit Restrictions: There are currently no nationality or travel history related travel restrictions for entry into the United Kingdom. 2. Quarantine Requirements: No self-isolation on arrival if you are from or stopped in these countries or areas (including Hong Kong) during the previous 14 days. If you are from other countries or areas not listed, self-isolation is required on arrival for 14 days.

1. Entry & Transit Restrictions: A temporary travel restriction is in place for travel from any country outside the EU to the following countries: EU/Schengen: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden. Associated countries: Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland

1. Entry & Transit Restrictions: All foreign nationals are not allowed to enter or pass through Australia. From 1 July 2020 until further notice, all international flight arrivals into Melbourne airport have been suspended by the Australian Government.

1. Entry & Transit Restrictions: Except premanent residents of Canada, Canadian citizens or US citizens and their families, all foreign nationals are not allowed to enter Canada by flight (not including transit). 2. Quarantine Requirements: All passengers entering Canada are required to self-isolate for 14 days

For the entry restrictions of other countries/territories, please refer to the following links for the most updated information:

Hong Kong Security Bureau Centre for Health Protection

Cathay Pacific COVID-19 travel restrictions page

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Hong Kong restrictions push Cathay Pacific back into the red

Cathay forecasts operating just 2% of passenger capacity in January.

Cathay Pacific Airways is back to burning cash, following the Hong Kong government’s renewed travel restrictions and quarantine rules that aim to keep the Omicron variant at bay.

The Oneworld carrier anticipates monthly cash burn of HK$1-1.5 billion ($128-193 million) from February following capacity cuts in response to the tighter restrictions, Cathay Pacific said Monday. This is a reverse for the airline that was “marginally cash generative” in the second half of 2021. Cathay forecasts operating just 20% of its pre-pandemic cargo capacity, and 2% of passenger capacity in January.

“Until conditions improve, we are doing everything in our power to maximize capacity,” said Cathay CEO Augustus Tang said.

Since the beginning of January, Cathay has suspended flights to eight countries through at least February 4 due to renewed government restrictions. The list includes flights to Australia, the UK, and U.S., which together amounted to more than 44% of its global capacity in 2019, according to Cirium schedules. And, in a major blow to Hong Kong’s status as a global aviation hub — and Cathay’s as a global superconnector — the government barred transit passengers from all but China and Taiwan until at least February 15.

J.P. Morgan analyst Karen Li wrote in a January 17 report that the bank expects a broad reopening of Asian countries to travelers from the second quarter “at the earliest.” However, she noted that China is so far “sticking to its Covid-19 zero stance,” which could mean Hong Kong remains mostly closed despite border reopenings elsewhere in the region.

The past year was a tough one for Cathay, even before its current challenges. The airline anticipates a loss of HK$5.6-6.1 billion that, while steep, is a significant improvement from the HK$21.6 billion loss it posted in 2020. Cathay attributes the improvement to strong cargo demand and better cost and cash management. Cargo traffic, measured in revenue freight ton kilometers (RFTK), was down just 14.7% year-over-two-years in December, whereas passenger traffic was down 95.1%.

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Wow: Cathay Pacific Still 40% Below 2019 Passenger Numbers

Global airline seat capacity in April is around 4% ahead of pre-pandemic April 2019, with schedule data showing 112.5 million seats available this year compared to 108.9 million in the same week of 2019. While that's a promising number globally, the same positivity is certainly not true with Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific, which carried 40% fewer passengers in March 2024 than in March 2019.

Starting from a long way behind

Without going over old ground, both Cathay Pacific (Cathay) and Hong Kong International Airport have endured a few horror years, starting in 2019 with political unrest disrupting the airport operations through the prolonged and severe travel restrictions imposed by China during the pandemic. Cathay is recovering, albeit from a shallow base, and in March, it carried 1.88 million passengers, a credible increase of 42.4% year-on-year (YoY) but 40% below the 3.11 million carried in March 2019.

On Friday, Cathay released its March 2024 traffic figures, which show comparisons only to 2023 performance. That showed March capacity as measured by available seat kilometers rose by 48.9% YoY, and demand as measured by revenue passenger kilometers rose by 38.1%, leading to a fall in the passenger load factor of 6.6 percentage points to 83.8%.

In the first three months of 2024, the number of passengers carried increased YoY by 55.7% to 5.40 million, although with capacity increasing by 56.4% and demand by 47.7%, the load factor fell by 4.9 percentage points to 83.0%. In the first three months of 2019, the Cathay Group, which included Cathay Dragon , carried 9.07 million passengers at a load factor of 84.0%.

Demand is building but slowly

Cathay said its travel business performed well in March, with healthy demand across its services both leading up to and including the Easter holiday period. Cathay Pacific Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Livinia Lau said student traffic from the United Kingdom was particularly strong ahead of Easter, and outbound and return traffic surged over the holidays. Lau added that demand for premium cabins to and from Hong Kong also remained strong.

"This was driven by the various exhibitions and trade shows that took place in the city in March, most notably the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and Art Basel. We were also pleased to resume our direct flights between Bangkok and Singapore in March, which have been popular with customers."

Fleet data from ch-aviation highlights the gap between Cathay's pre-pandemic and current status. The data lists 187 aircraft in the Cathay fleet, with 154 shown as active and 33 inactive. With around 18% of aircraft not operating, the capacity is available to return to pre-COVID levels, but clearly, the demand is not.

The bulk of the passenger flying is done by 35 Airbus A330s and 45 A350s, with 45 Boeing 777-300s also on active duty. There are 20 freighters listed, including 14 Boeing 747-8Fs and six 747-400ERFs, with one of each shown as inactive. Cathay said that cargo demand was stronger in March, with tonnage up by 26% compared to the previous month and 11% year-on-year.

Lau is enthusiastic about the forthcoming Chinese mainland Labor Day Golden Week holiday period, during which Cathay is seeing a healthy increase in travel demand from the mainland to Hong Kong and regional destinations via the Hong Kong hub. To meet that demand, the carrier is adding around 200 round-trip flights per week to mainland China during the Golden Week celebrations.

Have you flown with Cathay Pacific in 2024? Let us know about it in the comments.

Cathay Pacific

IATA/ICAO Code: CX/CPA

Airline Type: Full Service Carrier

Hub(s): Hong Kong International Airport

Year Founded: 1946

Alliance: oneworld

CEO: Ronald Lam

Country: China (Special Administrative Region)

Region: Asia

Hong Kong International Airport

IATA/ICAO Code: HKG/VHHH

CEO: Fred Lam

Passenger Count : 1,196,000 (2021)

Runways : 07R/25L - 3,800m (12,467ft) |07L/25R - 3,800m (12,467ft)

Terminals: Terminal 1 |Terminal 2