Cathay Group Achieves Historic Passenger Milestone with Thirty-Seven Percent Growth and Unveils Ambitious Route Expansion for 2025

Published on February 19, 2025

Cathay Group takes off strong in 2025 with soaring passenger growth, record-breaking HK Express numbers, and bold expansion plans. A promising year ahead!

The Cathay Group has commenced the year on a high note, achieving another significant passenger milestone and unveiling additional new destinations. The release of its January 2025 traffic figures highlights substantial growth across all its business units, reinforcing its commitment to expansion and excellence in the aviation industry.

Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “The Cathay Group has got off to a strong start in 2025. Over the Lunar New Year travel peak, on 25 January Cathay Pacific and HK Express combined carried over 110,000 passengers, marking a new post-pandemic record for the number of passengers carried on a single day.

“As a Group, we are continuing to enhance our passenger network for our customers and for Hong Kong as we strive to reach 100 passenger destinations worldwide this year. In January, Cathay Pacific announced the return of direct flights to Rome starting 5 June 2025, while HK Express launched its service to Sendai on 17 January. HK Express has also announced flights to Nha Trang and Ishigaki starting 3 April. So far, eight destinations are joining our Group passenger network in 2025, with more announcements still to come.”

Cathay Pacific: A Steady Climb

Cathay Pacific recorded an impressive 37% increase in passenger numbers compared to January 2024, reflecting a strong demand for travel. The airline also saw a 30.9% rise in Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs), demonstrating its continued capacity expansion. The load factor climbed by 3.6 percentage points, indicating improved occupancy rates on its flights.

Lavinia said: “Following the Christmas and New Year holidays, Cathay Pacific witnessed a resurgence in business travel demand leading to a solid load factor in the premium cabins. January also marked the peak period for outbound student traffic as the school term resumed, boosting demand on long-haul routes.

“Towards the end of the month, passenger travel demand from our home market, Hong Kong, and the Chinese Mainland increased significantly during the Lunar New Year holiday, with short-haul destinations being the most popular. Looking ahead, we anticipate a quieter period for leisure travel demand until the end of March.”

Cathay Cargo: A Stronger Freight Market

The cargo division, Cathay Cargo, registered a 13.7% increase in cargo volume compared to the same period last year. Available Freight Tonne Kilometres (AFTKs) also increased by 14.7%, underscoring the company’s resilience in the global logistics market. However, the load factor experienced a slight dip of 2.5 percentage points, reflecting shifting market dynamics.

Lavinia said: “Cargo got off to a slower start after the New Year holidays, but demand gradually picked up pace as we approached the traditional pre-Lunar New Year rush. Perishables and seasonal produce from the Southwest Pacific remained robust, and we also observed increased demand for our Cathay Secure solution attributed to increased valuable cargoes from Southeast Asia as well as South Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Softer cargo demand is expected following the Lunar New Year period.

“Last week, we were also proud to have the opportunity to showcase our expertise in transporting live animals at the Hong Kong International Horse Show, for which we flew in around 70 competing horses as the event’s official airline partner.”

HK Express: Record-Breaking Passenger Numbers

HK Express, the group’s low-cost carrier, achieved a record-breaking passenger volume, transporting over 667,000 passengers in January 2025. This represents a staggering 46.1% increase year on year, making it one of the fastest-growing airlines in the region. Its ASK grew by 39.7%, reflecting aggressive network expansion and fleet utilization.

Lavinia said: “In addition to carrying a record number of passengers and expanding its network in January, HK Express also increased flights on a number of its routes, with Tokyo (Narita) increased to six daily return flights and Hiroshima to four return flights per week. Extra sectors to Hualien, Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Phu Quoc were also mounted over the Lunar New Year peak season.”

Enhanced Reporting Format

Starting January 2025, The Cathay Group has refined its monthly traffic figures format to provide clearer and more structured information. The updated format distinctly categorizes data for Cathay Pacific, Cathay Cargo, and, for the first time, HK Express. Additionally, ASK and Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPK) are now reported as total figures instead of region-based breakdowns, and Available Tonne Kilometres (ATK) has been removed from reporting. Detailed regional breakdowns for Cathay Pacific’s ASK and load factor remain available in its Interim and Annual Reports.

Cathay Pacific – January 2025 Performance

Cathay Cargo January 2025 Performance

HK Express – January 2025 Performance

Outlook for 2025

With a strong start to the year, The Cathay Group remains optimistic about its growth trajectory. The airline group is expected to continue expanding its network, introducing new routes and increased frequencies to high-demand destinations. This strategic move aligns with the company’s vision to provide seamless connectivity and enhanced customer experiences.

As global travel continues its upward momentum, The Cathay Group is well-positioned to capitalize on rising passenger demand and evolving market trends, ensuring a robust and dynamic 2025 ahead.