HONG KONG, 15 November 2022: Cathay Pacific and HK Express will restore pre-Covid passenger capacity and connectivity at the Hong Kong aviation hub by the end of 2024.
Cathay Pacific Group in its latest update released Monday anticipates it will be operating around 70% of its pre-pandemic passenger flight capacity by the end of 2023 and intends to return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024, ahead of the Asia-Pacific traffic forecast issued by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Following the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government’s recent adjustments to anti-pandemic measures for travellers and aircrew entering Hong Kong, the group has already announced the addition of about 3,000 passenger flight sectors from October until the end of December this year.
Chief Executive Officer Augustus Tang said: “The group is on track to achieve its target of operating up to one-third of its pre-pandemic passenger flight capacity levels by the end of 2022. This represents a doubling of the capacity we offered in August and is approximately eight times the average capacity the airline operated in the first half of 2022.
“As the COVID-19 situation eases, airlines worldwide 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 concerning crew and ground employees, aircraft reactivation and recruitment. This is a challenge faced by airlines, industry suppliers and airports worldwide, which takes time and robust planning to overcome.
“We are taking a measured and responsible approach to manage our road to recovery, with a need to address challenges unique to Hong Kong. The city’s borders were closed for much longer than other markets, and importantly, aircrew in Hong Kong was uniquely under quarantine constraints that weren’t lifted until September.
“Importantly, we have sufficient pilots, cabin crew and operational employees to support our current flight schedules. 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 time and aircraft reactivation. We have been bolstering our capabilities to expedite this process.”
The group remains confident about the long-term prospects for the aviation sector in Hong Kong, as it looks forward to the complete removal of all travel constraints by the HKSAR Government to facilitate the full resumption of travel activities both to and from Hong Kong that can enhance the city’s hub connectivity.
Tang added: “Under the 14th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong has an important role to play in the overall development of the territory. Notably, the Plan reinforces the importance of strengthening Hong Kong as an international aviation hub. As we continue to increase our passenger flight capacity, we also look forward to completing the Three Runway System at Hong Kong International Airport in 2024, which remains pivotal to the long-term future of the hub.
