Cathay Group reports double-digit growth in passenger and cargo traffic in May

The Cathay Group recorded strong growth across both its passenger and cargo businesses in May 2026, with Cathay Pacific and HK Express carrying more than 3.3 million passengers, up 14% year-on-year, while Cathay Cargo transported over 150,000 tonnes of freight, an 11% increase.

Cathay Pacific saw passenger numbers rise by 17% compared with May 2025, supported by strong holiday travel demand across Asia, increased transit traffic through Hong Kong, and sustained demand for premium cabins. The airline reported a network-wide load factor of 87% and remains optimistic about the upcoming summer travel season, particularly on long-haul routes.

Cargo performance also remained robust, driven by strong demand on key Asian trade lanes. Growth was supported by shipments of semiconductors, servers and pharmaceuticals, while Cathay Cargo further strengthened its fleet plans by ordering two additional Airbus A350F freighters, bringing its total commitment to eight aircraft.

Low-cost subsidiary HK Express carried more than 670,000 passengers during the month, a 5% increase year on year. Southeast Asian destinations, especially Thailand and the Philippines, remained popular, while the airline’s Beijing Daxing route achieved load factors above 90%.

The Group also continued to expand its network, announcing new direct services from Hong Kong to Almaty, its first destination in Central Asia, from early 2027, while HK Express will launch daily flights to Wuxi in July.

Financially, Cathay expects to record a one-off gain of approximately HK$1.4 billion in the first half of 2026 following the dilution of its stake in Air China after the Chinese carrier completed an A-share issuance.