Cathay Pacific is expected to increase its capacity for flights bound for Brisbane and Perth aiming to return to pre-pandemic levels. As the airline company does so, it expects to increase travel volumes to and fro for both domestic and international flights.
The Hong Kong-based airline is boosting its weekly flights to 75%, with Perth flights from 6 to 11, and Brisbane from 6 to 10. This capacity increase is good news for passengers and cargo, offering more direct options to Hong Kong and beyond. The Cathay Group, including its subsidiary HK Express, plans to restore passenger flights to 100% of pre-pandemic levels by the first quarter of 2025, seeking to expand to over 90 destinations next year.
Frosti Lau, Regional General Manager for Southwest Pacific, stated: “I am incredibly proud to see flights increasing for Brisbane and Perth. This is a testament to our team continuing to provide world-class service as we rebuild our flights and network.”
He added, “This announcement is equally important for our cargo business as we grow our freight capacity. The updated schedule will see new opportunities for businesses in Brisbane and Perth across fresh produce, pharma, speciality items, and more.”
Additionally, Cathay Pacific will resume seasonal flights to Cairns starting December 17 to March 29, 2025, operating 3 return flights per week with its two-class Airbus A330-300 aircraft.
Western Australia’s Acting Tourism Minister, John Carey, expressed enthusiasm regarding this news, stating, “Securing additional non-stop aviation services is vital to driving more travelers to our state, injecting visitor spending into our economy, and creating jobs in the tourism and hospitality industries. We’re thrilled to see an uplift in Cathay Pacific’s weekly offerings, with the airline now operating more services to Perth than they did pre-pandemic.”
Cathay Pacific and its subsidiary are also restoring its network and expanding reach, which includes launching flights to Riyadh in the latter quarters of 2024, or until further notice.
Cathay Pacific currently serves 5 Australian cities, namely: Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, Brisbane, and Perth.
