Cathay Pacific has quietly posted launch fares for its newest long-haul destination—Seattle—confirming industry speculation that the carrier is resuming North-American expansion on the back of Hong Kong’s traffic rebound. A marketing notice on the airline’s website dated 2 February 2026 lists an "Economy from US$647" promotion for travel beginning 30 March 2026, when Airbus A350-900 aircraft will start thrice-weekly rotations between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Hong Kong International Airport.(flights.cathaypacific.com)
Seattle will become Cathay Pacific’s ninth passenger gateway in North America and its first new U.S. station since the pandemic. The move strengthens connectivity for tech firms with offices on both ends—Amazon, Microsoft and T-Mobile in Seattle, and a growing cluster of cloud-computing hubs in Hong Kong’s New Territories. Flight CX857 is scheduled to depart Seattle late evening, offering same-day connections to over 30 Asian cities, including Tokyo and Singapore, while the westbound leg enables morning arrivals in the Pacific Northwest.(flights.cathaypacific.com)
Travellers jetting between these tech hubs can simplify visa formalities through VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/), which quickly identifies entry requirements for both the United States and onward Asian destinations, processes eVisas online, and arranges courier services for passport-based applications—saving corporate travel managers and leisure flyers valuable time.
![Cathay Pacific launches Seattle–Hong Kong route with introductory fares]()
The timing is strategic. U.S.–Asia capacity remains about 12 percent below 2019 levels, keeping yields elevated. Cathay’s A350s, configured with 280 seats and low cargo-hold fuel burn, are well suited to thinner premium-heavy routes. The airline is also leveraging Hong Kong’s recent expansion of air-passenger tax exemptions for transit travellers, which reduces through-fare costs by HK$120. Travel management companies say early-bird fares are 15–20 percent below competing one-stop options on ANA and Korean Air.(hongkongairport.com)
Corporate buyers should note that the promotional window closes 31 March 2026 and that blackout dates apply during the northern-summer peak. Firms with West-Coast traffic can lock in negotiated rates now, before the route matures and fares drift upward. Shippers of high-value semiconductors also benefit, as the A350 offers temperature-controlled holds ideal for sensitive cargo. Cathay has indicated that if loads exceed 80 percent, a fourth weekly frequency could be added for the busy June conference season.(aeroroutes.com)
For Hong Kong’s broader mobility ecosystem, the Seattle launch underscores the city’s recovery as a global hub and may spur airport retail and lounge renovations aimed at North-American travellers. Immigration queues should remain manageable given Cathay’s gradual ramp-up, but the Immigration Department is expected to monitor arrival peaks and adjust e-Channel staffing accordingly.
Seattle will become Cathay Pacific’s ninth passenger gateway in North America and its first new U.S. station since the pandemic. The move strengthens connectivity for tech firms with offices on both ends—Amazon, Microsoft and T-Mobile in Seattle, and a growing cluster of cloud-computing hubs in Hong Kong’s New Territories. Flight CX857 is scheduled to depart Seattle late evening, offering same-day connections to over 30 Asian cities, including Tokyo and Singapore, while the westbound leg enables morning arrivals in the Pacific Northwest.(flights.cathaypacific.com)
Travellers jetting between these tech hubs can simplify visa formalities through VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/), which quickly identifies entry requirements for both the United States and onward Asian destinations, processes eVisas online, and arranges courier services for passport-based applications—saving corporate travel managers and leisure flyers valuable time.
The timing is strategic. U.S.–Asia capacity remains about 12 percent below 2019 levels, keeping yields elevated. Cathay’s A350s, configured with 280 seats and low cargo-hold fuel burn, are well suited to thinner premium-heavy routes. The airline is also leveraging Hong Kong’s recent expansion of air-passenger tax exemptions for transit travellers, which reduces through-fare costs by HK$120. Travel management companies say early-bird fares are 15–20 percent below competing one-stop options on ANA and Korean Air.(hongkongairport.com)
Corporate buyers should note that the promotional window closes 31 March 2026 and that blackout dates apply during the northern-summer peak. Firms with West-Coast traffic can lock in negotiated rates now, before the route matures and fares drift upward. Shippers of high-value semiconductors also benefit, as the A350 offers temperature-controlled holds ideal for sensitive cargo. Cathay has indicated that if loads exceed 80 percent, a fourth weekly frequency could be added for the busy June conference season.(aeroroutes.com)
For Hong Kong’s broader mobility ecosystem, the Seattle launch underscores the city’s recovery as a global hub and may spur airport retail and lounge renovations aimed at North-American travellers. Immigration queues should remain manageable given Cathay’s gradual ramp-up, but the Immigration Department is expected to monitor arrival peaks and adjust e-Channel staffing accordingly.
