Cathay backs Hong Kong’s five-year plan to strengthen global aviation hub

Dhaka: Cathay has welcomed initiatives outlined in Hong Kong’s first Five-Year Plan and 2026 Policy Address aimed at strengthening the city’s position as an international aviation hub.

The airline said the measures, announced by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, include expanding air connectivity, improving transport links across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and developing a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply chain.

Cathay CEO Ronald Lam said the Three-Runway System at Hong Kong International Airport provides significant scope for further growth. The airline has committed about HKD 150 billion to aircraft, cabin and lounge upgrades and digital technology, he said.

Cathay plans to add 150 aircraft to its fleet and serve 150 destinations globally over the next decade, subject to market conditions.

The airline is also expanding its international network. Cathay Pacific will begin nonstop flights to Almaty, Kazakhstan, on January 9, 2027, marking its first destination in Central Asia. It is also increasing its presence in Latin America through additional codeshare services.

Cathay said improved passenger and cargo connectivity within the GBA could further support Hong Kong’s aviation sector. It also welcomed a preliminary proposal to extend the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link southward.

On sustainability, the airline backed efforts to establish a competitive SAF industry in Hong Kong and the wider GBA, including planned production in Dongguan and a blending facility in Hong Kong.

Lam said Cathay would continue contributing to Hong Kong’s development as a global aviation center.