Cathay Pacific Group to optimise fleet for greater growth potential, better connectivity

Nov 12, 2019: The Cathay Pacific Group is planning on fleet optimisation strategies on the passenger fleet of its airlines Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon and HK Express that will help maximize their efficiencies and synergies, thus ensuring greater growth potential and better connectivity with its hub.

As of now, the group has existing orders for 65 new aircraft that is expected to be delivered by 2024 as part of the fleet modernisation plan. This includes the delivery of 21state-of-the-art Boeing 777-9 aircraft, 12 modern Airbus A350 and 32 A321neo aircraft between 2020 and 2024.

Cathay Dragon is expected to operate the first 16 of these narrow-body A321neo aircraft once the delivery is made from 2020 to 2022. The remaining 16 aircraft, meanwhile, will be part of the HK Express fleet from 2022.

Commenting on the strategy, Cathay Pacific Group CEO Augustus Tang said, “We have four airlines in the group, each of them has its clear proposition. Cathay Pacific will continue to operate as an international full-service airline providing premium services to customers while Cathay Dragon is our regional full-service carrier. Meanwhile, HK Express will remain as a standalone, low-cost airline focusing on serving leisure travel destinations. AHK Air Hong Kong will continue to be the Group’s all-cargo carrier specialising in express cargo services.

“We will continue to invest in each of our airlines, their products and services. New aircraft are always the best platform to showcase our customer experience offerings which we are continuously enhancing in the spirit of our progressive and thoughtful ‘Move Beyond’ brand values. Our goal is always to move people forward in life through our ability to connect them to meaningful people, places and experiences through our Hong Kong hub.”