Cathay Pacific reveals strong traffic figures for March 2023
Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Group plans for increasing travel demand as things look up
Cathay Pacific is releasing its traffic figures for March 2023, reflecting the ongoing strong demand for travel. The Cathay Pacific Group, which includes airlines Cathay Pacific and HK Express, has reached 50 percent of pre-pandemic passenger flight capacity levels as planned, covering more than 70 destinations as of the end of March.
Cathay Pacific carried a total of 1,322,180 passengers last month, up 4,217 percent compared to the same month last year. The month’s revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased 4,828 percent year-on-year. Additionally, capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), increased by 2,384 percent year-on-year.
Travel
Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau noted, in an April 20 press release, that the first quarter of 2023 has been one of continued improvement for the travel business, as the airline maintained its focus on reconnecting Hong Kong with the world. Lau highlighted that Cathay Pacific had resumed services to three more destinations, including Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, Haikou and Nagoya in March. Additionally, Cathay Pacific has reinstated its airport lounges and first-class cabins, which have been warmly welcomed by customers.
Outlook
Looking forward to April, Lau said, “On 9 April, we broke the 50,000 mark for the first time since the pandemic, carrying 53,233 passengers on that day. We are actively working to add more flights to our schedule to satisfy customer demand, in particular between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. Between now and the end of October, the number of return flights will be progressively increased to about 160 per week, covering 16 airports in 15 cities. This includes four return flights per day to Beijing, six return flights per day to Shanghai Pudong airport and nine return flights per week to Shanghai Hongqiao airport.”
