For aviation enthusiasts, Cathay Pacific offered one of the quirkiest ways to celebrate the New Year: flight CX880 left Hong Kong at 00:30 on 1 January 2026 and landed in Los Angeles at 20:55 on 31 December 2025 – effectively taking travellers four hours ‘back in time’. Sister service CX872 to San Francisco provided a similar trick, while ANA and United operated comparable trans-Pacific crossings.
The phenomenon stems from crossing the International Date Line from west to east. Holiday-period demand for the novelty was strong enough that Cathay opened limited-edition upgrade and lounge packages, pitching the journey as a premium corporate-hospitality experience for multinationals entertaining US clients.
For travellers intrigued by the stunt, having paperwork in order is just as critical as snagging an upgrade. VisaHQ’s Hong Kong team (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) can handle everything from ESTA applications to full B-1/B-2 visa processing, streamlining appointments and document collection so passengers can focus on enjoying their “time-travel” adventure instead of worrying about red tape.
![Cathay Pacific ‘time-travel’ flights let passengers ring in 2026 twice]()
Beyond the marketing glitz, the flights underline Hong Kong International Airport’s restored long-haul network: Cathay is now operating 80-plus weekly services to North America, roughly 70 percent of its pre-pandemic schedule. Travel managers report that the additional capacity has lowered fare volatility on key trade-lane routes, easing 2026 budget planning.
Duty-of-care teams, however, reminded staff that US immigration lines are notoriously long on New-Year’s Eve; Global Entry or Mobile Passport Control enrolment can make the novelty trip more pleasant. Travellers also need to reset corporate per-diem and payroll systems correctly, as arrival happens on a different tax year.
Looking ahead, Cathay plans to add Seattle in late March and has hinted that a daily Chicago rotation could return before year-end, further solidifying Hong Kong’s role as a trans-Pacific hub.
The phenomenon stems from crossing the International Date Line from west to east. Holiday-period demand for the novelty was strong enough that Cathay opened limited-edition upgrade and lounge packages, pitching the journey as a premium corporate-hospitality experience for multinationals entertaining US clients.
For travellers intrigued by the stunt, having paperwork in order is just as critical as snagging an upgrade. VisaHQ’s Hong Kong team (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) can handle everything from ESTA applications to full B-1/B-2 visa processing, streamlining appointments and document collection so passengers can focus on enjoying their “time-travel” adventure instead of worrying about red tape.
Beyond the marketing glitz, the flights underline Hong Kong International Airport’s restored long-haul network: Cathay is now operating 80-plus weekly services to North America, roughly 70 percent of its pre-pandemic schedule. Travel managers report that the additional capacity has lowered fare volatility on key trade-lane routes, easing 2026 budget planning.
Duty-of-care teams, however, reminded staff that US immigration lines are notoriously long on New-Year’s Eve; Global Entry or Mobile Passport Control enrolment can make the novelty trip more pleasant. Travellers also need to reset corporate per-diem and payroll systems correctly, as arrival happens on a different tax year.
Looking ahead, Cathay plans to add Seattle in late March and has hinted that a daily Chicago rotation could return before year-end, further solidifying Hong Kong’s role as a trans-Pacific hub.
