Hong Kong’s flag-carrier group is entering 2026 on a tail-wind. According to traffic figures released on 29 January 2026, Cathay Pacific and low-cost subsidiary HK Express carried more than 36 million passengers in 2025—up 27 per cent year-on-year—and handled 1.6 million tonnes of cargo, a 9 per cent rise. The growth culminated in an all-time single-day record of 125,000 passengers on 27 December, a milestone that was eclipsed again on 3 January with 126,000 travellers.(ttrweekly.com)
The surge was driven by several factors. First, Cathay rebuilt capacity aggressively: available seat-kilometres expanded by 25 per cent in 2025 as the group re-activated dormant wide-bodies, reopened lounges and rehired crew laid off during the pandemic. Second, Hong Kong’s three-runway system allowed the airline to add frequencies to North America, Oceania, Southeast Asia and—critically—the Chinese mainland, where Cathay now serves 24 destinations directly.
For corporate mobility managers the figures matter. A deeper schedule means more day-same-day options for executives who shuttle between Hong Kong, Shenzhen and regional hubs. The cargo rebound also shortens door-to-door times for time-sensitive shipments such as semiconductor equipment, a sector that underpins many expatriate assignments in the Greater Bay Area. With Lunar New Year demand already tracking ahead of last year, buyers should expect high load-factors and firm fares through the first quarter.
![Cathay Group posts record-breaking passenger traffic, reinforcing Hong Kong’s aviation rebound]()
Corporate travel planners juggling multiple passports and entry requirements may also appreciate a streamlined way to secure the right documentation. VisaHQ’s Hong Kong desk (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) simplifies everything from China multi-entry visas to urgent work permits, letting companies align travel paperwork with Cathay’s expanding flight network and avoid last-minute snags.
Looking ahead, Cathay will celebrate its 80th anniversary with “customer-centric initiatives” that insiders say include revamped corporate contract tiers and a refreshed digital booking interface. The airline was also ranked the world’s second-safest full-service carrier for 2026 by AirlineRatings, a selling point for mobility programmes with strict duty-of-care metrics.
Taken together, the data confirm that Hong Kong’s role as an international aviation hub is no longer in doubt. Procurement teams may want to lock-in allotments before the next fare filing cycle, while relocation specialists should factor tighter seat supply into project timelines between March and Easter.
The surge was driven by several factors. First, Cathay rebuilt capacity aggressively: available seat-kilometres expanded by 25 per cent in 2025 as the group re-activated dormant wide-bodies, reopened lounges and rehired crew laid off during the pandemic. Second, Hong Kong’s three-runway system allowed the airline to add frequencies to North America, Oceania, Southeast Asia and—critically—the Chinese mainland, where Cathay now serves 24 destinations directly.
For corporate mobility managers the figures matter. A deeper schedule means more day-same-day options for executives who shuttle between Hong Kong, Shenzhen and regional hubs. The cargo rebound also shortens door-to-door times for time-sensitive shipments such as semiconductor equipment, a sector that underpins many expatriate assignments in the Greater Bay Area. With Lunar New Year demand already tracking ahead of last year, buyers should expect high load-factors and firm fares through the first quarter.
Corporate travel planners juggling multiple passports and entry requirements may also appreciate a streamlined way to secure the right documentation. VisaHQ’s Hong Kong desk (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) simplifies everything from China multi-entry visas to urgent work permits, letting companies align travel paperwork with Cathay’s expanding flight network and avoid last-minute snags.
Looking ahead, Cathay will celebrate its 80th anniversary with “customer-centric initiatives” that insiders say include revamped corporate contract tiers and a refreshed digital booking interface. The airline was also ranked the world’s second-safest full-service carrier for 2026 by AirlineRatings, a selling point for mobility programmes with strict duty-of-care metrics.
Taken together, the data confirm that Hong Kong’s role as an international aviation hub is no longer in doubt. Procurement teams may want to lock-in allotments before the next fare filing cycle, while relocation specialists should factor tighter seat supply into project timelines between March and Easter.
