Cathay inspires 180 first-time flyers with Discovery Flight 2025 over Hong Kong

Event highlights airline’s commitment to youth empowerment through I Can Fly programme

Cathay hosted its Discovery Flight 2025, taking 180 first-time flyers from the Strive and Rise Programme and Kwun Tong Methodist Social Service on a 90-minute journey over Hong Kong aboard a newly retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER.

The special flight, part of Cathay’s I Can Fly youth development initiative, was attended by Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki as Guest of Honour and Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau.

Eric Chan praised Cathay for its “staunch support” of the government’s Strive and Rise Programme, noting that the airline has organised over 40 activities benefiting more than 3,600 students and mentors across three cohorts.

Lavinia Lau said: “At Cathay, we believe aviation doesn’t just connect places — it moves people forward in life. The Discovery Flight celebrates the potential of young people, many experiencing the joy of flight for the first time.”

Supported by more than 100 Cathay volunteers, the event marked a major milestone in the refreshed I Can Fly programme, which engages youth through Education, Discovery, and Exploration. This year, the initiative has already reached about 1,400 participants across Hong Kong.

Launched in 2003, I Can Fly is part of Cathay’s broader investment in nurturing aviation talent, which also includes the Cadet Pilot Training Programme, partnerships with the Vocational Training Council, and the Cathay Hackathon, whose 2025 finals will be held later this month.