Here we publish, in full, a message to customers of Cathay Pacific Airways from CEO Ronald Lam on the occasion of the airline’s 80th year celebrations.
SEE a Pictorial Tribute To Cathay
READ – Cathay Pacific – 80 Years of Engineering Excellence
A very Happy New Year to you and your loved ones!
I joined Cathay 30 years ago and have had the privilege to witness how Cathay has grown into a world-renowned aviation group. This year marks a special milestone, as we celebrate 80 Years Together. Thank you for your support over the last eight decades.
New investments, new aircraft, new routes
Looking ahead, our refreshed vision is to become our customers’ most loved service brand. That’s why we are investing well over HK$100 billion to enhance the experiences that matter most to you. This investment includes an all-encompassing fleet renewal and expansion plan with more than 100 new-generation aircraft on order, alongside new cabin and lounge products, and continued digital innovation.
As a Group, we have expanded our global network to more than 100 destinations through our home hub of Hong Kong, while strengthening connectivity between Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world. In 2025 alone, we launched a total of 20 destinations. Cathay Pacific introduced new services to Urumqi and Changsha in the Chinese Mainland, while HK Express added Changzhou, Yiwu and Guiyang. We also enhanced Hong Kong’s reputation as an international aviation hub with long-haul routes to Hyderabad, Dallas-Fort Worth, Rome, Munich, Brussels and Adelaide, as well as regional routes across Asia.
New products to look forward to in 2026
Our award-winning Aria Suite in Business class and our new Premium Economy will be fitted to more Boeing 777-300ER aircraft serving daily flights to destinations such as Frankfurt, London, Melbourne, San Francisco, Sydney and Vancouver, with more to follow. Towards the latter part of the year, a new flat-bed Business class product will debut on our Airbus A330-300 aircraft.
Beyond the skies, The Wing, First lounge is set to reopen at Hong Kong International Airport, while The Wing, Business will close and undergo its own redesign – and for the very first time, we will be bringing you a new lounge in John F. Kennedy International Airport, elevating your journeys higher still.
More to come in 2027
We recently announced the enhancement of our Cathay membership programme, designed to bring you a smoother, simpler and better membership experience. The changes will take effect from 1 January 2027, and with the transitional arrangement already underway, we hope you’re excited for what’s to come. We’ll also see the launch of a world-leading First class experience on board our new Boeing 777-9 aircraft later that year.
We’ve come a long way because of your unwavering support over the years. Thank you once again for your continued trust. Throughout this special year, we’ll be celebrating 80 Years Together with a host of exciting initiatives and experiences – and I look forward to having you join us.
