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
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 began with former war-time pilots Roy Farrell and Sydney de Kantzow, who saw the opportunity to fly much-needed goods from Australia to Shanghai in post-war China. They relocated to Hong Kong to found the company, and officially 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.
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
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 Chinese Mainland and the rest of 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 fly across Europe and North America.
The following year, we began passenger service to the Chinese Mainland, with the first flight to Shanghai in June 1980.
New heights
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.
1986 – Strengthening connections
We launched our first direct passenger route to Beijing. The following year, Chinese state-owned investment enterprise CITIC became a significant stakeholder, paving the way for our growing partnership with the Chinese Mainland.
In 1991, 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
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.
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 carbon emissions from flying and address concerns of climate change.
We launched our new membership programme, Cathay, elevating the member experience with greater rewards and lifestyle offerings.
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.
2023 – A new vision
Our global transformation into a premium travel and lifestyle brand was completed with the renaming of our master brand. Under Cathay, our offerings extend beyond flights to holidays, shopping, dining, wellness and payment solutions.
In parallel, we enhanced our connectivity across the Greater Bay Area, our extended home market, through direct air-to-land transfer services while extending our intermodal cargo handling to Dongguan.
Under our master brand, our cargo business was rebranded to Cathay Cargo.
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.
