Cathay Pacific
Hong Kong SAR, ChinaFull-service carrieroneworld memberSince 1946
Cathay Pacific (IATA CX, ICAO CPA) is Hong Kong's home airline, founded in 1946 and based at Hong Kong International Airport. A founding member of oneworld, it flew 179 aircraft at the end of 2025. With its low-cost subsidiary HK Express it served more than 100 destinations worldwide.
- Founded
- 1946
- Headquarters
- Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong
- Country
- Hong Kong SAR, China
- Main hubs
- Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
- Airline type
- Full-service carrier
- Alliance
- oneworld
- Loyalty
- Cathay membership programme (Asia Miles)
- Parent
- Cathay Group
- Ownership
- Listed in Hong Kong. Swire Pacific and Air China are the substantial shareholders under a 2006 shareholders' agreement. Cathay bought back all of Qatar Airways' shares in February 2026.
- Founders
- Roy Farrell, Sydney de Kantzow
- Callsign
- CATHAY
- Website
- cathaypacific.com
How travel agents book Cathay Pacific
GDS distribution
No verified public statement of Cathay Pacific's GDS distribution arrangements was found for this profile.
NDC
No public NDC programme details verified at time of writing.
Direct channels
Direct bookings on cathaypacific.com and the Cathay app. HK Express sells through its own website and app.
Notes for travel agents
HK Express is a separate low-cost airline with its own code (UO); agents should check which group airline operates a Hong Kong flight before quoting fare rules or baggage.
On ReservationHub
ReservationHub gives agencies GDS content from Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport plus NDC and low-cost channels in one platform. See the full list on our integrations page.
History of Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific was founded in Hong Kong on 24 September 1946 by two former wartime pilots, the American Roy Farrell and the Australian Sydney de Kantzow, flying a DC-3 nicknamed "Betsy". Swire became a key shareholder in 1948, and in 1959 Cathay took over rival Hong Kong Airways and expanded to Japan and Australia.
The fleet was all-jet by 1967, and Boeing 747s arrived in 1979, opening long-haul routes to Europe. Cathay began flights to the Chinese Mainland in 1980, and CITIC became a major shareholder in 1987. In 1998 the airline made the first commercial landing at the new Chek Lap Kok airport, and the same year it helped found the oneworld alliance.
In 2019 Cathay bought Hong Kong's low-cost airline HK Express, which is now a wholly owned subsidiary. During the pandemic the government supported the airline with a recapitalisation, which Cathay has since repaid through a series of buybacks, the last being Qatar Airways' shares in February 2026. The group marks its 80th anniversary in 2026 and has more than 100 new aircraft on order, including Boeing 777-9s.
Milestones
- 1946Founded in Hong Kong on 24 September by Roy Farrell and Sydney de Kantzow.
- 1948Swire became a key shareholder.
- 1979First Boeing 747 delivered, opening long-haul routes.
- 1998First commercial landing at Chek Lap Kok; co-founded oneworld.
- 2019Acquired low-cost airline HK Express.
- 2026Completed the buyback of Qatar Airways' 9.57% shareholding on 24 February.
Fleet
Aircraft types in service as of 2025
At 31 December 2025 Cathay Pacific had 179 aircraft: 35 777-300ERs, 17 777-300s, 43 A330-300s, 30 A350-900s, 18 A350-1000s and 16 A320neo-family jets, plus 20 Boeing 747 freighters. On order are 35 Boeing 777-9s, 30 A330-900s and six A350F freighters. HK Express flew 44 A320-family aircraft and Air Hong Kong 14 freighters, giving the group 237 aircraft.
Network and hubs
Cathay's hub is Hong Kong International Airport. At the end of 2025, Cathay Pacific and HK Express together flew to more than 100 destinations, 24 of them in the Chinese Mainland, and reached a further 176 destinations through codeshares.
Cathay Pacific flies long-haul to North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and regionally across Asia, the Middle East and South Asia. HK Express runs low-cost flights to 37 destinations (end 2025), mainly in Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia and the Chinese Mainland. The group aims to grow its network to 150 destinations within ten years.
Cathay Pacific: frequently asked questions
What are Cathay Pacific's IATA and ICAO codes?
Cathay Pacific uses the IATA code CX and the ICAO code CPA, with the radio callsign CATHAY. Its ticket prefix in the IATA register is 160. HK Express, the group's low-cost airline, uses UO and HKE.
Is HK Express part of Cathay Pacific?
Yes. HK Express has been wholly owned by Cathay Pacific since 2019 and is Hong Kong's only low-cost airline. It flew 44 A320-family aircraft to 37 destinations at the end of 2025, separately from Cathay Pacific's full-service network.
Who owns Cathay Pacific?
Cathay Pacific is listed in Hong Kong. Swire Pacific and Air China are its substantial shareholders under a 2006 shareholders' agreement, with Swire Pacific holding the larger direct stake. Cathay bought back all of Qatar Airways' shares in February 2026.
Is Cathay Pacific in oneworld?
Yes. Cathay Pacific is a founding member of oneworld, set up in 1998. Members of the Cathay programme earn Status Points and Asia Miles, and Diamond, Gold and Silver tiers match oneworld Emerald, Sapphire and Ruby.
Sell Cathay Pacific alongside 700+ airlines
ReservationHub combines GDS, NDC and low-cost carrier content with hotels, B2B sub-agent sales and back office in one travel booking platform.
Book a meetingSources
- Cathay Pacific — Our history
- Cathay Pacific — Annual Report 2025
- Cathay Group — 2026 interim results
- Cathay Group — Traffic figures for September 2026
- oneworld — Cathay Pacific member page
- IATA — Airline members list
- IATA — Airline and location code search
- FAA — JO 7340.2 Contractions, ICAO aircraft operator designators