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[[image:CX333 TPE.JPG|thumb|right|250px|A Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300 at Taipei Chiang Kai-shek International Airport]]
[[image:CX333 TPE.JPG|thumb|right|250px|A Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300 at Taipei Chiang Kai-shek International Airport]]


Cathay Pacific Airways was founded in [[Shanghai]] on [[September 24]], [[1946]] by an American and an Australian, [[Roy Farrell]] and [[Sydney de Kantzow]], both ex-air force, who each put up HK$1 the airline, according to legend, was conceived by Farrell and some foreign correspondents at the bar of the [[Manila Hotel]]. They had a single [[Douglas C-47]]. The company initially flew routes between Hong Kong, [[Sydney]], [[Manila]], [[Singapore]], [[Shanghai]], and [[Guangzhou]], while scheduled service was limited to Manila, Singapore and Bangkok only. In 1948 Butterfield & Swire took a minority stake in the airline and soon came to have complete control over the day-to-day management, later acquiring 52% of Cathay Pacific. The airline is still part of the [[Swire Group]] through Swire Pacific.
Cathay Pacific Airways was founded in [[Shanghai]] on [[September 24]], [[1946]] by an American and an Australian, [[Roy Farrell]] and [[Sydney de Kantzow]], both ex-air force, who each put up HK$1 to register the airline. According to legend, the airline was conceived by Farrell and some foreign correspondents at the bar of the [[Manila Hotel]]. They had a single [[Douglas C-47]]. The company initially flew routes between Hong Kong, [[Sydney]], [[Manila]], [[Singapore]], [[Shanghai]], and [[Guangzhou]], while scheduled service was limited to Manila, Singapore and [[Bangkok]] only. In [[1948]] Butterfield & Swire bought 45% of Cathay Pacific, with [[Australian National Airways]] taking 35% and Farrell and de Kantzow taking 10% each. The new company began operations on [[1 July]] [[1948]] and was registered as Cathay Pacific Airways (1948) Ltd on [[18 October]] [[1948]]. Swire later acquired 52% of Cathay Pacific and the airline is still part of the [[Swire Group]] through Swire Pacific.


The airline prospered into the 1960s, buying rival Hong Kong Airways in 1959, recording double digit growth until 1967, acquiring its first jet engined aircraft ([[Convair 880]]) and beginning international routes to airports in [[Japan]]. In 1966 the airline had carried a million passengers. Expansion continued throughout the 1970s and especially the 1980s, when an industry-wide boom encouraged route growth to many [[Europe]]an centres and Cathay Pacific went public in 1986. The company was hurt by the [[Asian financial crisis|Asian recession]] of the late 1990s, undergoing a reorganization and developing a new identity.
The airline prospered into the 1960s, buying rival Hong Kong Airways in [[1959]], recording double digit growth until [[1967]], acquiring its first jet engined aircraft ([[Convair 880]]) and beginning international routes to airports in [[Japan]]. In [[1966]] the airline had carried a million passengers. Expansion continued throughout the 1970s and especially the 1980s, when an industry-wide boom encouraged route growth to many [[Europe]]an centres and Cathay Pacific went public in [[1986]]. In January [[1990]], Cathay Pacific and its parent company Swire Pacific acquired a significant shareholding in [[Dragonair]], and a 60% stake in cargo airline [[Air Hong Kong]]. The company was hurt by the [[Asian financial crisis|Asian recession]] of the late 1990s, undergoing a reorganization and developing a new identity.


In [[1996]] the Chinese [[CITIC]] bought a 25% stake in Cathay Pacific. The [[Swire Group]] holding was reduced to 44% as two other Chinese companies, CNAC and CTS also bought substantial holdings.
In [[1996]] the Chinese [[CITIC]] bought a 25% stake in Cathay Pacific. The [[Swire Group]] holding was reduced to 44% as two other Chinese companies, CNAC and CTS also bought substantial holdings. In September [[1998]] Cathay Pacific became a founder member of the Oneworld Alliance.


In 2004 the airline had a turnover of [[Hong Kong dollar|HK$]] 39,065 million and made a profit of HK$ 4,417 million.
In [[2004]] the airline had a turnover of [[Hong Kong dollar|HK$]] 39,065 million and made a profit of HK$ 4,417 million. The airline is now owned by Swire Group (45.11%) and Citic Pacific (25.4%) and has 15,040 employees (at January [[2005]]).


== Awards ==
== Awards ==
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*Possible new transatlantic service from London Heathrow to
*Possible new transatlantic service from London Heathrow to
**[[New York]], [[United States]]
**[[New York]], [[United States]]



*Possible resumed services from Hong Kong:
*Possible resumed services from Hong Kong:
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</table>
</table>


On July 29th 2005, Cathay Pacific took delivery of its 95th aircraft (Airbus A330-300), which is equipped with new-generation entertainment system. Cathay Pacific has 3 more A330-300s on firm order, a new Boeing 777-300, and will also be adding 5 used Boeing 747-400s to its fleet. By September 2006, Cathay's 60th Anniversary, its fleet size will reach 100 aircrafts.
On [[July 29]] [[2005]], Cathay Pacific took delivery of its 95th aircraft, an [[Airbus A330|Airbus A330-300]] aircraft, which is equipped with new-generation entertainment system. Cathay Pacific has 3 more Airbus A330-300s on firm order, and a new [[Boeing 777|Boeing 777-300]], and will also be adding 5 used [[Boeing 747|Boeing 747-400]]s to its fleet. By September [[2006]], Cathay's 60th Anniversary, its fleet size will reach 100 aircraft.


== See also ==
== See also ==
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{{Commons|Cathay Pacific}}
{{Commons|Cathay Pacific}}
*[http://www.cathaypacific.com/ Cathay Pacific]
*[http://www.cathaypacific.com/ Cathay Pacific]
*[http://www.planemad.net/Airline/HK/Cathay_Pacific_Airways_(CX_CPA)/Fleet.htm?show=all Cathay Pacific Fleet Detail]
*[http://www.planespotters.net/Airline/Cathay_Pacific_Airways?show=all Cathay Pacific Fleet Detail]
*[http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/cathay.htm Cathay Pacific Passenger Opinions]
*[http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/cathay.htm Cathay Pacific Passenger Opinions]
*[http://free.kkhy.com/dragon/d-CX.html Information of Cathay Pacific from an aviation enthusiast website]
*[http://free.kkhy.com/dragon/d-CX.html Information of Cathay Pacific from an aviation enthusiast website]

Revision as of 21:27, 2 September 2005

Template:Infobox frame

Cathay Pacific
File:CX Logo.gif
IATA
ICAO
Callsign
CX CPA Cathay
Founded1946
Chairman
)
Websitewww.cathaypacific.com

Template:End frame

Cathay Pacific Airways Limited (國泰航空有限公司 Pinyin (in Mandarin Chinese):Guótài Hángkōng Yŏuxiàn Gōngsī, abbreviated 國泰) SEHK: 293 is an Asian commercial airline based in Hong Kong. It operates scheduled passenger and cargo services to 90 destinations world-wide. Its main base is Hong Kong International Airport.

History

A Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-400 aircraft at London Heathrow
Cleaning a Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-400
A Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300 at Taipei Chiang Kai-shek International Airport

Cathay Pacific Airways was founded in

Swire Group
through Swire Pacific.

The airline prospered into the 1960s, buying rival Hong Kong Airways in

Asian recession
of the late 1990s, undergoing a reorganization and developing a new identity.

In

Swire Group holding was reduced to 44% as two other Chinese companies, CNAC and CTS also bought substantial holdings. In September 1998
Cathay Pacific became a founder member of the Oneworld Alliance.

In 2004 the airline had a turnover of HK$ 39,065 million and made a profit of HK$ 4,417 million. The airline is now owned by Swire Group (45.11%) and Citic Pacific (25.4%) and has 15,040 employees (at January 2005).

Awards

Skytrax

  • One of the four 5-star airlines Source
  • Skytrax World's Best Airline Lounge Award 2005 Source
  • Skytrax World's Best Airline Award 2003 and 2005 Source
  • Cathay Pacific's home base at Hong Kong International Airport was voted the world's best airport in 2005 for the fifth year straight Source

Cathay Pacific was recently named the Best Overall Airline in the world by passengers surveyed. Source

Onboard services

Entertainment

Cathay Pacific's entertainment system is called StudioCX.

Personal Television (PTV) are available in all seats including Economy Class on all of their flights, and you can select from more than 20 different video channels in all classes. Ten interactive games are available on all long-haul flights.

Audio/Video on Demand (AVOD) service is available for all First and Business Class passengers on all long-haul flights.

StudioCX provides many programmes and films mainly in Cantonese and English with some programmes in Mandarin and Japanese. On selected routes there are also many English-language movies with alternative soundtracks in a broad range of European and Asian languages.

The AVOD system will be installed in the Economy Class in the near future; the system will be introduced with the newly designed Economy Class seats.

Cathay Pacific Network

see

Cathay Pacific destinations

Cathay Pacific Cargo has launched daily freighter services from Hong Kong to Shanghai using Boeing 747-200F aircraft, making it the second mainland China city served after it resumed passenger services to Beijing in December 2003, after a 13 year break (ref: Airliner World, March 2005).

The first landing flight on new Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok was the Cathay Pacific flight CX6889 from New York JFK Airport, USA non stop via North Pole which had arrived at 06:30am Hong Kong time at 6 July 1998 and this flight was named "Polar One". The flight path now becomes the main routing from East Coast of USA to Asia. The non-stop flight from Hong Kong to New York JFK over North Pole routing becomes fully operational since 1 July 2004 with A340-600 aircraft, being the longest direct flight of Cathay Pacific, lasting for 16 hours.

After 25 years of service to London, Cathay Pacific annouced on June 27th 2005 the addition of a fourth daily non-stop flight to London . The new service will begin on December 1st 2005 and will be operated by an airbus A340-300 in a three class configuration.

On August 1st 2005, Cathay Pacific added a third daily non-stop service to Los Angeles.

On August 3rd 2005, Cathay Pacific announced the addition of a second daily non-stop flight to and from Jakarta. This new service will be operated by an airbus A330-300 (two class configuration) starting on November 1st 2005. This new service will replace a current one-stop service to Jakarta via Singapore.

Cathay Pacific will also add new freighter service to Atlanta and Dallas later this year (2005).

Codeshare partners

Cathay Pacific network expands quickly with many codeshare links from those oneworld hubs such as American Airlines'

London Heathrow
, etc.

Also, Cathay Pacific has started to codeshare on France SNCF TGV Trains from Aéroport Charles-de-Gaulle TGV Station to 10 French cities.

  • The followings are codeshare partners and codeshare links of Cathay Pacific:
    • Air China: Cathay Pacific will codeshare with Air China in the second-half of 2005 on flights between Hong Kong and Beijing.
    • Aeroflot: Cathay Pacific puts its "CX" code on Aeroflot's six flights weekly between Hong Kong and Moscow.
    • American Airlines (oneworld member): Cathay Pacific puts its code on American Airlines' flights to more than 20 US cities from American Airlines' hubs including Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth and New York.
    • British Airways (oneworld member): British Airways carries "CX" code to more than 15 European cities from London Heathrow.
    • Iberia Airlines
      (oneworld member): Cathay Pacific codeshares on Iberia's flights from Amsterdam to Madrid and from London to Barcelona. In return, Iberia puts its "IB" code on Cathay Pacific's flights between Amsterdam and Hong Kong.
    • Japan Airlines: Cathay Pacific codeshares with Japan Airlines from Hong Kong to Osaka and Nagoya.
    • Malaysia Airlines: Cathay Pacific codeshares with Malaysia Airlines on flights between Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
    • Qantas (oneworld member): Cathay Pacific carries "QF" code from Hong Kong to Rome. However, no codeshare agreement is signed on flights between Hong Kong and Australia.
    • SNCF TGV Trains: Cathay Pacific puts its "CX" code on the train services from Paris' Aéroport Charles-de-Gaulle TGV Station to Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes, Poitiers, St-Pierre des Corps / Tours and Valence.
    • South African Airways: The two carriers codeshare on all flights between Hong Kong and Johannesburg.
    • Vietnam Airlines: Cathay Pacific codeshares with Vietnam Airlines on all flights between Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Future destinations

Cathay Pacific is expanding its worldwide network from Hong Kong by adding frequencies. Besides, Cathay Pacific will start or resume services from its hub in the near future.

Fleet

Cathay Pacific's aircraft fleet of 95 planes are fitted with 3 classes of service (First, Business, and Economy) for long-haul flights, and 2 classes of service (Regional Business and Economy) for short-haul flights.

Current fleet by aircraft size
(as of
29 July 2005
)
Aircraft In Operation Seat Configuration Notes
Airbus A330-30020J44/Y267(311)
Airbus A330-3335P8/J32/Y211(251)With New Business Class
Airbus A340-300 (34C)5P8/J30/Y205(243)With New Business Class
Airbus A340-300 (34D)10J30/Y257(287)
Airbus A340-6003P8/J60/Y218(286)With New Business Class
Boeing 747-200F6-
Boeing 747-40015P12/J47/Y324(383)
Boeing 747-400 Premium4P12/J65/Y268(345)
Boeing 747-400F5-
Boeing 777-2005J45/Y291(336)
Boeing 777-30011J59/Y323(385)

On July 29 2005, Cathay Pacific took delivery of its 95th aircraft, an Airbus A330-300 aircraft, which is equipped with new-generation entertainment system. Cathay Pacific has 3 more Airbus A330-300s on firm order, and a new Boeing 777-300, and will also be adding 5 used Boeing 747-400s to its fleet. By September 2006, Cathay's 60th Anniversary, its fleet size will reach 100 aircraft.

See also

  • List of Hong Kong companies

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cathay Pacific.
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