Cathay Pacific restarts Seattle flights, expands cargo capacity

Cathay Pacific will resume its non-stop passenger service between Hong Kong and Seattle from today, 30 March 2026, restoring a trans-Pacific link that also adds cargo capacity to its network. The airline will operate five return flights per week on the route, reintroducing bellyhold capacity at a time of sustained demand across Asia-North America trade lanes.

The return of the Seattle service strengthens the cargo offering of Cathay Pacific by integrating passenger belly space with its existing freighter operations. The airline stated that the additional capacity will complement close to 40 return freighter flights per week to North America during the peak of the 2026 summer season, providing more options for cargo customers moving goods across the Pacific.

The Hong Kong-Seattle route will be operated using Airbus A350-900 aircraft. While configured for passenger services, the aircraft provides lower deck cargo capacity that is typically used for high-value and time-sensitive shipments. This added capacity is expected to support flows such as e-commerce, electronics, and perishables between Asia and the United States.

The Seattle service becomes part of Cathay Pacific’s broader North America network, which will see more than 110 return flights per week across destinations including Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver, and Seattle during the 2026 summer schedule. The expansion of passenger frequencies across these routes increases the availability of bellyhold cargo space, which remains a key component of the airline’s cargo strategy.

Cathay Pacific said the reinstatement of the Seattle route aligns with growing demand for connectivity between Asia and North America. The airline noted that the route supports traffic flows from multiple markets, including the Chinese mainland and India, which are key contributors to trans-Pacific cargo volumes.

The move also reflects a broader industry trend where airlines are leveraging passenger networks to supplement dedicated freighter capacity. By combining scheduled freighter services with passenger aircraft cargo space, carriers are able to optimise yield and improve network flexibility in response to shifting demand patterns.

The airline’s cargo division continues to rely on this dual-capacity model to manage peak season volumes. With nearly 40 weekly freighter rotations to North America and additional belly capacity from passenger operations, Cathay Pacific is positioning its Hong Kong hub as a key transshipment point for intercontinental cargo flows.