Cathay Pacific (00293) passenger capacity increased 5% year-on-year in August

According to the Zhitong Finance App, Cathay Pacific (00293) announced that Cathay Pacific's passenger capacity in August 2026 increased by 5% compared to the same month in 2025, and the number of available seat kilometers increased by 3% year-on-year. In the first 8 months of 2026, passenger capacity increased 15% compared to the same period in 2025.

Liu Kaishi said, “August met last month's strong demand. Demand for leisure travel remained steady during the month, with routes from Hong Kong and mainland China to short-haul destinations performing particularly well. Furthermore, with the start of the new school year, the number of international students visiting North America and the UK increased significantly at the end of August. Looking ahead, although passenger demand has always been relatively quiet in September, it is expected that demand will pick up as the “National Day Golden Week” holiday approaches.”

Cathay Pacific Cargo's cargo volume in August 2026 increased by 9% compared to the same month of 2025, and the number of usable cargo tonnes and kilometers increased by 1% year-on-year. In the first 8 months of 2026, cargo volume increased by 8% compared to the same period last year.

Kaishi Liu said, “In August, freight demand in all major markets remained steady. The “Cathay Pacific - Special Cargo Delivery” program benefited from strong semiconductor transportation demand in Asia, while the “Cathay Pacific - Pharmaceutical Delivery” program also recorded significant growth in the European and mainland Chinese markets. Furthermore, the “Cathay Pacific Priority Delivery” program continues to perform well, reflecting strong demand from shippers to replenish inventory before the traditional year-end peak air cargo season.

“As we enter September, we are honored to escort more than 50 star horses from Liège to Hong Kong at the beginning of the month to perform at “CAVALLUNA”, the first equestrian theatre to break out of Europe, demonstrating Cathay Pacific Cargo's expertise in animal transportation. Looking ahead, the launch of new digital products and the arrival of the peak season for traditional air cargo will drive demand growth, and it is expected that the cargo business will remain strong.”

Hong Kong Express carried more than 790,000 passengers in August 2026, a slight decrease of 1% compared to the same month of 2025, and the number of available seat kilometers increased by 3% year-on-year. In the first 8 months of 2026, passenger capacity increased 8% compared to the same period last year.

Kaishi Liu said, “Hong Kong Express's mainland China route continued to be very popular in August. With the increase in capacity, the overall passenger load rate of mainland China routes is still as high as 90%. The newly launched direct service from Wuxi was well received by customers, driving the overall performance of the mainland China network. As the peak of summer vacation tourism comes to an end, demand is expected to be relatively quiet in September. We remain focused on stimulating travel demand across the entire network and making optimal arrangements for capacity.”