The Cathay Pacific expects to resume approximately 70 percent of pre-COVID capacity by the end of 2023, and return to pre-pandemic capacity by the end of 2024. Following the easing of anti-pandemic measures, the carrier will add 3,000 flight by year-end 2022.
On Monday (November 14, 2022), Cathay Pacific Group, which includes Cathay Pacific Airlines and HK Express, announced plans to return to 70 percent of pre-pandemic capacity by the end of 2023, and 100 percent by the end of 2024. Following the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's (HKSAR) easing of anti-pandemic measures and restrictions on travelers and crewmembers entering Hong Kong, the Group will add approximately 3,000 flights between October and December 2022.
In Monday’s announcement, Cathay Pacific’s Chief Executive Officer, Augustus Tang, said in part,
“As the COVID-19 situation eases, airlines around the world have been rebuilding their capacity. This requires the global aviation ecosystem, including airports, suppliers and our own airlines, to undertake a substantial amount of preparation with regards to crew and ground employees, aircraft reactivation and recruitment. This is a challenge faced by airlines, industry suppliers and airports around the world and one which takes time and robust planning to overcome.
“We are taking a measured and responsible approach to managing our own road to recovery, with a need to address challenges that are unique to Hong Kong. The city’s borders were closed for much longer than other markets and importantly, aircrew in Hong Kong were uniquely under quarantine constraints that weren’t lifted until September. Despite all this, our recovery trajectory is in line with other carriers that don’t benefit from a domestic market in terms of the time taken since borders began to open.
“Importantly, we have sufficient pilots, cabin crew and operational employees to support our current flight schedules, and we are confident that our ongoing recruitment plans will ensure this remains the case throughout the recovery. The short-term bottlenecks lie in the recertification of pilots who have not been flying regularly for a long period of time and the reactivation of aircraft. We have been bolstering our capabilities to expedite this process...”
The planned restoration of capacity is part of the overall goal to reinforce Hong Kong as an international aviation hub. As the Cathay Pacific increases capacity, Hong Kong International Airport will transition to a three runway system, which is expected to be completed in 2024.
Source: Cathay Pacific Group
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