Cathay Cargo tonnage rises 11% in May as Asia trade lanes grow

Cathay Cargo reported continued growth in May 2026, carrying 150,089 tonnes of cargo during the month, an increase of 10.5% compared with May 2025. The airline's Available Freight Tonne Kilometres (AFTKs) rose 6.1% year on year to 1.31 billion, while Revenue Freight Tonne Kilometres (RFTKs) increased 6.7% to 783.1 million. Cargo load factor edged up by 0.3 percentage points to 59.8%.

For the first five months of 2026, Cathay Cargo carried 724,158 tonnes of freight, up 8.4% from the corresponding period last year. Available Freight Tonne Kilometres grew 4.5% to 6.39 billion, while Revenue Freight Tonne Kilometres increased 5% to 3.77 billion. Cargo load factor for the period improved by 0.3 percentage points to 59%.

Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said the carrier's cargo business maintained momentum during May, supported by demand across key markets. “Our cargo business continued to perform well in May, with year-on-year growth underpinned by robust demand on key trade lanes, particularly between the Chinese Mainland and Southeast Asia."

The company said demand for its specialist cargo products also contributed to growth. Lau noted that Cathay Expert benefited from semiconductor and server shipments moving within Asia and to destinations in the Americas. Pharmaceutical exports from Europe to the Chinese Mainland also supported volumes handled under the carrier's Cathay Pharma solution.

Looking ahead, the airline expects cargo demand to remain steady through June despite uncertainties in global trade. “Turning to June, we expect air cargo demand to remain resilient, and we will continue to monitor market developments closely,” Lau said.

Cathay Cargo also announced plans to expand its freighter fleet. The airline has placed an order for two additional Airbus A350F freighters, increasing its total commitment for the aircraft type to eight. In addition, an Airbus A330P2F freighter will join the fleet under a lease arrangement and will be operated by Air Hong Kong.

Lau said the fleet expansion forms part of the group's long-term cargo strategy. “We were also pleased to announce an order for two additional Airbus A350F freighter aircraft, bringing our total commitment to eight. Together with an additional leased Airbus A330P2F freighter to be operated by Air Hong Kong, Cathay Cargo will continue to invest and strengthen Hong Kong’s status as a world-leading international air cargo hub.”

The latest figures indicate that Cathay Cargo continues to benefit from demand across Asian manufacturing and technology supply chains, while pharmaceutical flows remain an important contributor to traffic growth. The carrier's cargo performance in the first five months of 2026 reflects sustained demand across its network despite wider market challenges and higher operating costs facing the aviation sector.