Cathay says leisure, event-driven traffic to help airline meet 2026 growth target
FILE PHOTO: MTR passengers walk past a Cathay Pacific advertisement in an MTR station, in Hong Kong, China, March 11, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo
May 20 : Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific said on Wednesday it remained on track to meet its 2026 capacity growth targets as it expected seasonal leisure travel and event-driven traffic to drive demand despite soaring fuel costs tied to the Iran war.
Here are some details:
• The carrier said it was on track to meet its 10 per cent capacity growth target for 2026, despite a few cancellations in May and June.
• It flew 17 per cent more passengers in April compared to last year on "robust" travel demand, while flagging pressures from high jet fuel prices due to Middle East tensions.
• It observed changes in booking behavior, with customers booking closer to departure dates amid market uncertainties.
• The company said it will 'maintain the integrity' of its July and August flight schedules.
• The airline said its cargo business carried 8 per cent more cargo in April compared to a year ago, and expects the momentum to continue into May.
• The airline extended the suspension of passenger services to Dubai and Riyadh until August-end, and redeployed routes to destinations in Europe like Manchester and Rome.
