Cathay Group reports strong growth in February 2026

The Cathay Group reports strong growth in February 2026, continuing the momentum from January, largely driven by Lunar New Year travel.

Passenger Traffic

• Cathay Pacific and HK Express carried over 3.2 million passengers, up 24% YoY.

• Cathay Pacific’s Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs) increased 16%, with short-haul destinations most popular during Lunar New Year. Premium cabins saw strong load factors as business travel rebounded late in the month.

• HK Express carried 730,000+ passengers, up 25% YoY, achieving an 86% load factor, with South Korea, Malaysia, and Chinese Mainland routes in high demand.

Cargo Operations

• Cathay Cargo tonnage rose 7% YoY, with Available Freight Tonne Kilometres (AFTKs) up 4%.

• Lunar New Year temporarily softened demand, but services like Cathay Secure (Europe/Americas ? Asia) and Cathay Live Animal (notably live lobster shipments) performed well.

Operational Adjustments

• Due to Middle East geopolitical tensions, flights to Dubai and Riyadh are suspended until 30 April 2026.

• Additional flights to London and Zurich are being added to meet rising European demand.

• Cathay Pacific will launch a five-times-weekly Seattle service on 30 March.

Outlook

• Leisure travel bookings in March remain robust across Asia.

• Cargo demand is expected to improve as scheduled freighter operations ramp up toward quarter-end.