Cathay Pacific Soars in March with Strong Demand

DALLAS — Cathay Pacific (CX) reported positive traffic figures for March 2024, reflecting a significant increase in passenger travel and a rebound in cargo demand.

The Hong Kong-based carrier carried a total of 1,883,404 passengers in March, a 42.4% jump compared to March 2023. This growth was attributed to several factors, as highlighted by Lavinia Lau, Cathay Pacific's Chief Customer and Commercial Officer.

“Our travel business performed well in March with healthy demand across our services both leading up to and during the Easter holiday period," said Lavinia Lau, Cathay Pacific's Chief Customer and Commercial Officer.

Student traffic from the UK surged before Easter, and overall outbound and return traffic saw a significant rise during the holidays. Additionally, the resumption of direct flights between Bangkok (BKK) and Singapore (SIN) in March proved popular with passengers.

Lau further explained that “Demand in the premium cabins both to and from Hong Kong also remained strong. This was driven by the various exhibitions and trade shows that took place in the city in March, most notably the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and Art Basel."

Cargo Demand Sees Positive Upturn

While passenger numbers saw a significant increase, cargo tonnage also experienced a positive trend. CX transported 134,551 tonnes of cargo in March, reflecting a 10.5% growth year-on-year.

"Cargo demand was stronger in March, with our tonnage up by 26% compared with the previous month and up by 11% compared to March 2023," stated Lau.

This growth can be attributed to factories in Hong Kong city and Mainland China resuming operations after the Lunar New Year, leading to a rise in e-commerce and express shipments due to the end-of-quarter rush.

Looking Ahead: Positive Outlook for Golden Week

Cathay Pacific anticipates a continuation of the positive trend with the upcoming "Golden Week" holiday period in Mainland China. The carrier is seeing a healthy increase in travel demand from the Chinese Mainland to Hong Kong, as well as to regional destinations via the HKG hub.

To cater to this demand, the airline group plans to increase Mainland China frequencies to around 200 round-trip flights per week during the Golden Week holiday period.

For the cargo sector, CX expects e-commerce demand to remain strong, with overall air cargo demand projected to be stable on long-haul routes. The airline also expressed its pride in Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) retaining its title as the world's busiest cargo airport for the 13th time in 14 years.

Cathay Pacific remains committed to collaborating with stakeholders to solidify Hong Kong's position as a leading global air cargo hub.

The featured image showcases CX's Boeing 777-300(ER).