Overview
Founded in September 24, 1946, Cathay Pacific Airways is actually Hong Kong’s flag carrier. With its hub based at the Hong Kong International Airport, Cathay Pacific Airways’ focus cities are Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. The airline’s frequent flyer programs are Asia Miles and the Marco Polo Club, with the following member lounges: The Pier, The Wing, and The Arrival. Forming an alliance with Oneworld, the airline’s subsidiaries include Dragonair and Air Hong Kong.
Operating under their parent company, Swire Pacific Limited, its slogan is actually “Now you’re flying”. With a fleet size of 120, Cathay Pacific Airways flies to 46 destinations – even reaching 110 through codeshare agreements – straight from its headquarters in Hong Kong.
Company Profile and History
Cathay Pacific Airways is one of just six airlines carrying a 5-star rating from Skytrax. The airline’s global operations are comprised of passenger and cargo services to approximately 115 destinations in 36 countries.
The airline was actually founded by two men – Australian Sydney de Kantzow and American Roy Farrell. With its base primarily situated in Shanghai, the partners decided to move the business to Hong Kong. The name “Cathay” is actually derived from the Medieval name that was once given to China. This comes from “Khitan” and “Pacific”, since Roy Farrell always had speculations that the airline would soon expand to the area of the Pacific.
In 1948, Butterfield & Swire purchased 45% of the airline, with 35% owned by Australian National Airways, and both de Kantzow and Farrell owning 10% each. This newly formed company was then given the new name Cathay Pacific Airways (1948) Ltd in October 18, 1948, with operations starting as early as July 1, 1948.
Cathay Pacific Airways Fleet
Passenger fleet
- Airbus: A330-300, A340-300
- Boeing: 747-400, 777-200, 777-300, and 777-300ER
Cargo fleet
- Boeing: 747-200F, 747-400F, 747-400BCF, 747-400ERF, and 747-8F.
Cathay Pacific Airways Destinations
The airline flies to the following destinations:
- South Africa: Johannesburg
- China: Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai
- Republic of (Taiwan) China: Taipei
- Japan: Fukuoka, Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo, and Tokyo
- South Korea: Seoul
- India: Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi
- Pakistan: Karachi
- Sri Lanka: Colombo
- Indonesia: Denpasar, Jakarta, Surabaya
- Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur and Penang
- Philippines: Cebu and Manila
- Singapore: Singapore
- Thailand: Bangkok
- Vietnam: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
- Bahrain: Bahrain
- Saudi Arabia: Riyadh
- U.A.E.: Dubai
- Belgium: Brussels
- France: Paris
- Germany: Frankfurt and Munich
- Italy: Milan and Rome
- Netherlands: Amsterdam
- Sweden: Stockholm
- Switzerland: Zurich
- U.K.: London and Manchester
- Canada: Toronto and Vancouver
- U.S.A.: Anchorage, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, and San Francisco
- Australia: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney
- New Zealand: Auckland
