iscover
Cathay Pacific will bring back its seasonal service from Hong Kong to Cairns after a successful first year.
Around 16,000 passengers flew on the route, which operated between 17 December 2024 and 29 March 2025 using Cathay’s A330 fleet. The renewed service, also with A330s, will run from 9 December to 28 February, adding around 20,000 seats over the holiday and Lunar New Year peak.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
Flights will operate three times per week, as with the previous season.
“The Cathay Pacific brand is highly regarded across Tropical North Queensland and we are thrilled our strengthened partnership has led to further, ongoing opportunities that will benefit our wider community and key industries. This is a new era in our relationship with Cathay Pacific, and a major coup for our region,” Richard Barker, chief executive of Cairns Airport, said.
“Cathay Pacific’s global network provides seamless connections to key visitor and freight markets across the Chinese Mainland, United Kingdom, Europe and India. We expect thousands of additional tourists will choose Tropical North Queensland for their festive holidays this year, and to welcome the Year of the Horse.
“This service will inject an estimated $18 million into the economy in visitor expenditure alone, and give locals more overseas leisure options as they plan their extended end-of-year leave. It will also bolster valuable direct export channels that were successfully established last year through the Cathay Pacific network.”
Cathay Regional general manager Southwest Pacific Frosti Lau said the first season had attracted passengers from Hong Kong, Europe and the rest of Asia.
“Bringing this service back will continue to encourage more tourism on both ends around Christmas and Lunar New Year,” he said.
“Equally as important is our freight support for local businesses where we proudly transport live seafood, fresh produce and more. We are looking forward to continued success over the 2025/26 summer season.”
The route was backed by the Queensland Government and Tourism Tropical North Queensland, with CEO Mark Olsen labelling it a vote of confidence during a key period.
“Having this direct route to the key aviation hub of Hong Kong operating during Tropical North Queensland’s shoulder season will help to boost international visitation from the Chinese Mainland and Europe during our quieter months,” he said.
“Tourism Tropical North Queensland has undertaken extensive marketing activities in China and Europe over the past two years to drive demand for direct services including the seasonal Cathay Pacific flights.”
