The Cathay Group has released its April 2026 traffic figures, revealing a 17% year-on-year increase in passengers carried by Cathay Pacific, despite high jet fuel prices. This growth was largely driven by leisure travel during the Easter and "Golden Week" holidays, as well as an influx of business travellers attending major exhibitions in Hong Kong.

Cathay's Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, Lavinia Lau, noted that the airline is maintaining its agility in response to market conditions. "April continued to present a mixed picture," she said, highlighting robust travel demand and high passenger load factors. However, elevated jet fuel prices due to the ongoing Middle East situation have increased cost pressures.

In anticipation of the summer travel peak, Cathay Pacific and HK Express plan to maintain their July and August flight schedules. Capacity will be redeployed from routes with softer demand, such as Dubai and Riyadh, to those with stronger demand, including Manchester and Rome. This strategy aims to keep the airline on track to achieve its 2026 growth target of around 10%.

Cathay Cargo also reported an 8% increase in tonnage compared to April 2025, with strong demand to the Americas and for specialised shipping solutions. Lau expressed optimism for continued momentum in May, following the "Golden Week" holidays, and noted the addition of Bangkok to the freighter network, enhancing their presence in Southeast Asia.

HK Express saw a 5% year-on-year increase in passengers, with strong performance on Thailand routes and secondary cities in Northeast Asia. Bookings for May and beyond remain ahead of the previous year, indicating sustained demand

This story was selected and published by a human editor, with content adapted from original press material using AI tools. Spot an error? Report it here.