Cathay Pacific Returns to Brussels, Expands Europe Network

‍HONG KONG — Cathay Pacific (CX) is back in Brussels, restarting its nonstop flights between Hong Kong (HKG) and the Belgian capital (BRU) after a long break due to the pandemic. The four-times-weekly service officially took off again on August 4, reconnecting the airline’s home base with one of Europe’s key cities.

This relaunch is part of Cathay’s bigger push to strengthen its European network. With nearly 100 return flights a week now running between Hong Kong and various cities across Europe, the airline is picking up pace in its post-COVID comeback, and Brussels is the latest addition to that growing list.

Connecting Hong Kong to the “Heart of Europe”

Cathay’s comeback to Brussels isn’t just another route relaunch; it reconnects Hong Kong with one of Europe’s most important cities. As the home of the European Union and NATO, Brussels plays a significant role on the global stage, making it a valuable destination not just for tourists, but also for business travellers and diplomats.

Speaking on the route relaunch, Lavinia Lau, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer at Cathay Pacific, said:

“We are very pleased to be back in Brussels, directly connecting our home hub with one of Europe’s major political centres and a tourism destination that’s steeped in history and culture.”

She added that the route is designed with excellent flight timings to allow travelers to arrive refreshed and ready to take on the day, whether landing in Brussels or back in Hong Kong.

Europe Expansion in Full Swing

The Brussels return is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. CX is now flying to 12 destinations across Europe, including:

• London (LHR) – five daily flights
• Frankfurt (FRA), Paris (CDG), Zurich (ZRH), Milan (MXP), Manchester (MAN), Amsterdam (AMS) – Daily
• Barcelona (BCN), Munich (MUC), Madrid (MAD), Brussels (BRU) – 4 times weekly
• Rome (FCO) – 3 times weekly

This summer also saw new routes to Rome and Munich, further solidifying Cathay’s reach across Western and Central Europe.

“With increased frequencies to other popular European cities this summer as well, we’re making it even easier for customers to travel between Asia and Europe,” Lau emphasized.

Premium Experience on the A350-900

The Brussels service is operated using the Airbus A350-900, Cathay’s fuel-efficient widebody jet known for long-haul comfort. The aircraft features:

• Fully flat beds in Business Class
• Spacious Premium Economy seating
• Refreshed Economy cabins with improved legroom and entertainment

Passengers in all cabins enjoy CX’s award-winning in-flight entertainment, and those in Business, as well as Diamond members, receive complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi access.

Flight Schedule

CX291 (HKG to BRU)

• Departs: 23:50
• Arrives: 07:20 (+1)
• Operates: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday

CX294 (BRU to HKG)

• Departs: 13:25
• Arrives: 06:55 (+1)
• Operates: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

All times are local.

Beyond Brussels: Seamless Connectivity

Cathay Group’s strong hub at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) makes it easy for travelers to connect to over 100 destinations worldwide, including 23 cities across Mainland China. Its partnership with HK Express (UO), the group’s low-cost carrier, helps extend this reach even further.

For added convenience, passengers landing in Hong Kong can take advantage of intermodal connections through the SkyPier Terminal, which offers direct sea and land transport to key locations in the Greater Bay Area.

Don’t Forget the Cargo

Though this is a passenger relaunch, Cathay’s Brussels flights also bring added belly cargo capacity for freight customers. This complements seven weekly freighter flights between Europe and Hong Kong, supporting e-commerce and logistics demand across the region.

What This Means

Cathay Pacific’s return to Brussels highlights its steady recovery as a global airline. This move isn’t only about increasing passenger numbers; it reflects a strategic shift toward reconnecting with key political and economic hubs across Europe.

With business travel slowly picking up and long-haul routes showing promise, bringing Brussels back into the network is a smart step in Cathay’s push to rebuild both its capacity and customer confidence.

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