Cathay Pacific will return to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport with a nonstop link to Hong Kong, Condé Nast Traveler revealed on 15 November in its roundup of new U.S. routes slated for 2026. The Seattle flight, last operated in 2019, will be the carrier’s seventh North-American destination and reinforces Hong Kong’s status as a trans-Pacific aviation hub amid fierce competition from Korean Air, EVA Air and Japanese carriers on West Coast–Asia sectors.
Although the launch date is still pending regulatory approvals, travel-management companies already point to strong corporate demand from Washington State’s technology and life-sciences sectors, many of which maintain regional headquarters in Hong Kong or Shenzhen. The direct service will cut journey times by three to four hours compared with itineraries connecting through San Francisco or Vancouver.
![Cathay Pacific to Restore Seattle–Hong Kong Non-Stop Service in 2026, Says Condé Nast Traveler]()
For Hong Kong’s wider economy the route is a timely vote of confidence, arriving as the airport completes its Three-Runway System expansion and as the government steps up efforts to court U.S. multinationals under its "Northbound Travel for Talent" programme. Cargo interests also stand to benefit: Seattle handles high-value semiconductor and biotech shipments that fit Cathay’s A350 belly-hold network.
Corporate mobility teams should plan for advanced booking demand as soon as schedules load into global distribution systems—likely in mid-2026—especially during Northern-Winter tech conference peaks. The route will be eligible for Hong Kong’s existing Transit Facilitation Scheme, allowing most U.S. passport holders a 7-day visa-free stay.
Cathay says it will announce timetables and aircraft type “in due course”, but industry insiders expect an A350-900 configured with the airline’s new Aria Suite business-class product, mirroring the Dallas-Fort Worth launch earlier this year.
Although the launch date is still pending regulatory approvals, travel-management companies already point to strong corporate demand from Washington State’s technology and life-sciences sectors, many of which maintain regional headquarters in Hong Kong or Shenzhen. The direct service will cut journey times by three to four hours compared with itineraries connecting through San Francisco or Vancouver.
For Hong Kong’s wider economy the route is a timely vote of confidence, arriving as the airport completes its Three-Runway System expansion and as the government steps up efforts to court U.S. multinationals under its "Northbound Travel for Talent" programme. Cargo interests also stand to benefit: Seattle handles high-value semiconductor and biotech shipments that fit Cathay’s A350 belly-hold network.
Corporate mobility teams should plan for advanced booking demand as soon as schedules load into global distribution systems—likely in mid-2026—especially during Northern-Winter tech conference peaks. The route will be eligible for Hong Kong’s existing Transit Facilitation Scheme, allowing most U.S. passport holders a 7-day visa-free stay.
Cathay says it will announce timetables and aircraft type “in due course”, but industry insiders expect an A350-900 configured with the airline’s new Aria Suite business-class product, mirroring the Dallas-Fort Worth launch earlier this year.
