Our history

Bringing Hong Kong to the world, and the world to Hong Kong – for 80 years.

From a single aircraft to a world-leading premium travel lifestyle brand, we continue to move people forward in life – fuelled by the same pioneering spirit and purpose that inspired our very first flight.

Born with a purpose

A collage of two black and white photographs - on the left a portrait and on the right of a pilot waving out his window of an aircraft - of Roy Farrell and Sydney de Kantzow who flew the first flight of Cathay Pacific in 1946.

1946 – The Cathay story begins

Just one day after its establishment on 24 September 1946, Cathay Pacific took off on its first flight from Sydney to Hong Kong. Our story had begun with former war-time pilots Roy Farrell and Sydney de Kantzow, who saw the opportunity to fly goods from Australia into post-war China. They took to the skies in a Douglas DC-3 plane, nicknamed ‘Betsy’.

Two years later in 1948, Swire became a key shareholder, cementing a long-standing partnership that would shape the airline’s future for decades to come.

A grainy vintage photograph of a Cathay Pacific aircraft on a runway against a mountainous backdrop.

1959 – Reaching more of the world

After steady beginnings, Cathay Pacific acquired rival Hong Kong Airways, expanded its network to Japan and Australia and subsequently added Darwin, Sydney, Tokyo and Taipei.

Two Lockheed Electra aircraft were introduced to the fleet, then painted in a sleek green-and-white livery in 1960. As our first aircraft to offer First class and Economy cabins, the Electras flew until 1967.

Expansion days

A grainy vintage photograph of a Cathay Pacific aircraft on a runway at Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong. In the far background is Lion Rock.

1962 – Entering the jet age

We bought our first Convair 880. By 1967, our fleet was fully jet-powered, with eight 880s. The faster flights facilitated the expansion of our network to new destinations – including Fukuoka and Nagoya in 1966, and Kota Kinabalu and Okinawa in 1967.

1964 – Welcoming our one millionth passenger

On 19 October 1964, we welcomed our 1,000,000th passenger onboard a flight from Singapore to Bangkok. That same year, we unveiled a booking system for our cargo business, enabling freight space to be booked the way passengers book their seats.

1976 – Cargo takes off

We took off with our first dedicated freighter, a converted Boeing 707 aircraft featuring a large cargo door and Cathay Pacific Cargo branding. Today, our modern Boeing 747 freighter fleet plays a crucial role in providing specialised shipping solutions  to the world.

1979 – The Jumbo arrives

We welcomed our first Boeing 747, VR-HKG – a pivotal moment that transformed Cathay Pacific into a global contender with a long-haul network. Flights to London Gatwick began the following year. Our enhanced 747-400, introduced in 1989, paved the way for more long-haul flights to across Europe and North America.

New heights

A grainy vintage photograph of the interior of a Cathay Pacific aircraft cabin with green colour seating. A flight attendant places an object on the table in front of a seated female passenger.

1983 – Introducing cabin classes

We became the first airline in Asia to offer First class, Business class and Economy in our flights. This milestone ushered in a new era of cabin class differentiation bringing our customers enhanced comfort while setting a benchmark for premium travel – a standard that continues to evolve today.

A Cathay Pacific aircraft with the lettuce leaf livery design flys over the city. In the background are tall buildings and a moutainous backdrop of Lion Rock, Hong Kong.

1991 – Expansion into Europe

Taking advantage of the enhanced features of the Boeing 747-400, we launched non-stop, direct passenger flights to London Heathrow, Zurich and Amsterdam, further establishing our role to connect people between Asia and Europe.

Breaking grounds

A closeup image of a passenger browsing the inflight entertainment system onboard a Cathay Pacific flight.

1992 – The silver, seat back screen

Personal seat-back TVs were introduced to First class, before extending to Business class in 1994 and all cabins by 1996 with six channels in English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese. Today, our digital innovation continues inflight with 4K Ultra-HD screens in every cabin, offering thousands of hours of award-winning entertainment.

A Cathay Pacific aircraft with the lettuce leaf livery design on a runway at Kai Tak Airport.

1998 – From Kai Tak to Chek Lap Kok

In 1998, we marked a defining moment in Hong Kong’s aviation history. As the city bid an emotional farewell to Kai Tak Airport, we operated the very first commercial landing and that of the longest direct commercial flight at the time at Chek Lap Kok Airport, opening the doors to a new era of global connectivity.

That same year, we established the oneworld alliance with our partner airlines.

Forging ahead

2022 – Spearheading change

We introduced the first Corporate Sustainable Aviation Fuel Programme of its kind in Asia, bringing eight corporate customers on board to reduce lifecycle carbon emissions of flying and address concerns of climate change.

Marco Polo Club and Asia Miles merged under one membership programme, Cathay, elevating the member experience with greater rewards and lifestyle offerings.

A male passenger wearing a headset seated inside Cathay Pacific's Aria Suite while browsing the inflight entertainment system.

2024 – Soaring to new heights

We unveiled Aria Suite in our new Business class cabin – alongside refreshed Premium Economy and Economy on our thoughtfully designed Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, bringing passengers next-level comfort and privacy in the skies.

We also become the exclusive travel partner of the West Kowloon Cultural District, showcasing our commitment to fostering Hong Kong’s arts and culture scene.

Side view of an aircraft with 'Cathay Cargo' written across the aircraft body. In the background is a mountainous backdrop.

2023 – A new vision

Our global transformation into a premium travel and lifestyle brand completed with the renaming of our master brand. Under Cathay, our offerings extend beyond flights to holidays, shopping, dining, wellness and payment solutions.

Under our master brand, we rebranded our cargo business to Cathay Cargo .

A female passenger and a Cathay Pacific airport team member looks into frame with the icon of the app 'CMANywhere' blurred into the foreground.

2025 – Digital innovations and returning to Kai Tak

From hosting our 8th Cathay Hackathon to developing digital tools like Electronic Flight Folder and CMAnywhere, we continue to shape the future of travel by driving digital transformation.

We also celebrated a symbolic return to Kai Tak and commemorated the 100th anniversary of Kai Tak Airport with a fly-by over Victoria Harbour during the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens, paying tribute to our heritage and the city we call home.

A shared milestone

A Cathay Pacific aircraft flying high above the Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong. Above the aircraft is a logo in green with a brushwing in the top right, representing Cathay's 80th anniversary

2026 – 80 years together

From a journey that began with a single aircraft to today’s route network of 100 global destinations and counting, we celebrate 80 years of shared history with our members, customers and people.

Join us as we honour this remarkable milestone together.

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