Cathay Pacific (CX, Hong Kong International) is reportedly in talks with Airbus and Boeing about an order for up to six new-generation freighters, either A350-1000Fs or B777-8(F)s, sources told the Bloomberg news agency.
The carrier refused to comment.
While Cathay Pacific is also studying current-generation freighters and conversions, it is said to strongly prefer ordering new freighters directly from either of the manufacturers.
Cathay Pacific's cargo fleet currently comprises six B747-400ERFs, which are 13.8 years of age on average, and fourteen B747-8Fs, which average 9.7 years of age. It also fully-owns a dedicated cargo subsidiary, Air Hong Kong (LD, Hong Kong International), which operates eight A300-600Fs, one A300-600R(F), two A330-200Fs, and four A330-300(P2F)s. The subsidiary, which operates exclusively on behalf of DHL Express and is managed separately, would likely not be covered by the new order.
Hong Kong's flag carrier operates A350s and B777s in passenger configurations, including twenty-eight A350-900s (two more on order), sixteen -1000s (two more on order), seventeen B777-300s, and forty B777-300(ER)s. It also has 21 passenger B777-9s on firm order from Boeing, the ch-aviation fleets module shows.
During the pandemic, as Hong Kong retained one of the world's strictest travel restrictions through September 2022, cargo became Cathay Pacific's lifeline. In 2021, Cathay Pacific Group recorded HKD35.8 billion Hong Kong dollars (USD4.6 billion) in revenue, or 78.5% of the group's total inflows, from cargo.
