Cathay’s 80 years of trailblazing travel

Cathay's story began in 1946 with a single converted cargo plane, two visionary pilots and an ambition to connect people across Asia Pacific. Eight decades later, that pioneering spirit still guides us, carrying us from our earliest days to become one of our customers’ most loved service brands.

In the aftermath of the Second World War, our co-founders, former Air Force pilots Roy Farrell and Sydney de Kantzow, set out to build something remarkable, starting with a mission to fly goods from Australia to Shanghai. On 24 September 1946, just one day after Cathay Pacific Airways was registered in Hong Kong for HK$2, we operated our first flight from Sydney to Hong Kong. Our fleet then consisted of a single aircraft: a converted Douglas DC-3 affectionately known as “Betsy”.

The years that followed saw us spread our wings. In the 1960s, our Convair 880 jetliners extended our network across Asia to destinations including Seoul and Kota Kinabalu. The jet age transformed flying, making air travel faster and more accessible: on 19 October 1964, we welcomed our millionth passenger aboard a flight from Singapore to Bangkok.

“Since our earliest days, Cathay has helped open new horizons for people, businesses and communities,” says Cathay Group CEO Ronald Lam. “That purpose has defined our first 80 years, and it continues to guide us today.”

Another defining chapter began in 1979 with the arrival of our first Boeing 747. The jumbo jet extended our reach beyond the region and laid the foundations for a truly global network. The following year, we launched our first service to London.

Throughout the 1980s, generations of Hong Kong people looked skyward as our Boeing 747s, painted in their iconic green-and-white-striped “lettuce leaf sandwich” liveries, swept low over Kowloon on their approach to Kai Tak – enduring symbols of a city reaching out to the world. The ’80s brought the expansion of passenger services to the Chinese Mainland, starting with Shanghai in 1980. In 1983, we became the first airline in Asia to offer First class, Business class and Economy cabins on the same aircraft, setting new benchmarks for service. Three years later, as we marked our 40th anniversary, we became the first company to list on Hong Kong’s unified stock exchange. As our fleet and route map expanded, so did our understanding of our passengers’ needs.

In 1991, we were the first airline to introduce live radio on board, bringing music and news directly to passengers in flight. Seatback entertainment soon followed, arriving in First class in 1992 before extending across every cabin by 1996.

The end of the Kai Tak era marked another unforgettable moment. On 5 July 1998, CX251 to London Heathrow became the last flight to depart the legendary airport. The following morning, CX889 “Polar One” landed at the newly opened Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) at Chek Lap Kok. It was the first non-stop passenger service from New York to Hong Kong and the longest non-stop commercial flight in operation at the time.

In the same year, we took delivery of our first Boeing 777-300, an aircraft that would form the backbone of our long-haul fleet. The arrival of the Airbus A350 in 2016 ushered in a new era of efficiency and comfort. More recently, the introduction of new cabin products on selected Boeing 777-300ER aircraft has marked another chapter in the continual evolution of the passenger experience, with refreshed Business, Premium Economy and Economy designs elevating every journey.

While our first freighters began operations in 1976, cargo became an even more important pillar of our business in the 2000s. The HK$5.9 billion Cathay Cargo Terminal entered full operation in 2013 as one of the world’s largest and most advanced air cargo facilities, cementing Hong Kong as a leading international air freight hub. Today, Cathay Cargo carries about 1.7 million tonnes of cargo annually.

Throughout our journey, we’ve continued to push boundaries. In April 2025, we set a record for our longest route with the launch of Dallas-Fort Worth. Our network now spans more than 100 destinations worldwide, strengthened by recently launched routes to Urumqi, Munich and Seattle, with Almaty joining the network in 2027.

Our latest investments extend beyond our route network. New Airbus A321neo aircraft are bringing enhanced comfort and entertainment for a more refined travel experience, while our acclaimed Aria Suite in Business class and refreshed Premium Economy and Economy cabins on selected Boeing 777-300ER aircraft are setting new standards for long-haul flying. Soon, our refreshed Economy cabins and Aria Studio in Business on board our Airbus A330-300 fleet will mark the next chapter in regional travel.

As Cathay has evolved into a leading travel lifestyle brand, we’ve diversified the ways we connect to our customers. From digital innovations that make every stage of a journey more seamless to deeper integration with transport links across the Greater Bay Area, we’re creating a more connected travel ecosystem. Beyond flying, Cathay now offers a growing range of lifestyle, dining, shopping and wellness experiences that enrich everyday life. At the same time, we remain committed to building a more sustainable future for aviation through investments in newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft, measures to reduce emissions across our operations and accelerating the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Through these efforts, we aim to create lasting value for our customers, our home city and the communities we serve.

“As we celebrate 80 Years Together, we do so with gratitude for everyone who’s been part of our journey,” says Lam. “Cathay’s story is inseparable from Hong Kong, from our deep connections to the Chinese Mainland and from our place in the wider world. Our responsibility now is to honour that legacy by building on it, so future generations can continue to discover the joy of travel.”