The Cathay Group Places 32 More Airbus A320neo Family Orders

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific has announced it will double its existing Airbus narrowbody order, taking on 64 new A320neo family aircraft.

Incoming aircraft

As confirmed by Airbus on Friday, Cathay Pacific’s updated order will comprise Airbus’ A320neo and A321neo aircraft, joining Cathay Pacific and its low-cost subsidiary HK Express. Of the 64-strong order, Cathay Pacific has already taken on 13 of the type over the past three years, with the remaining jets eyed for delivery through 2029.

In a statement shared by the European aircraft manufacturer, Airbus COO Christian Scherer noted the airline’s post-pandemic recovery plans as it looks to target growth throughout China.

“Cathay is one of the world’s leading airline Groups and we are proud to be part of its recovery and growth plan. Operating out of the Cathay Group’s base at the heart of Asia, the A320neo family will enable it to expand its services across the region with a most efficient single aisle fleet and a positive passenger comfort differentiation.”

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

The order comes as Cathay Pacific looks to overhaul its fleet and scale up services to meet a resumption in demand for air travel across the region. Cathay Pacific currently operates a strong widebody fleet comprised of A330, A350, and Boeing 777 aircraft; however, its narrowbody operations lag behind, with its recently delivered A320neo jets serving as the backbone of its short and medium-haul operations.

Alongside its latest A320neo order, the carrier also holds an outstanding order for 20 777-9s; however, delivery has been pushed back to 2025 at the earliest. Cathay Pacific was previously reported to also be considering an additional A330neo or A350 order to replace its aging A330-300s and meet capacity requirements out of Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).

Demand for narrowbodies

Cathay Pacific is not the only Asian airline looking to expand its narrowbody operations. Demand has remained consistently high for aircraft throughout the Asia-Pacific region as carriers emerge from the pandemic looking to bolster services and upgrade to modern, more fuel-efficient jets.

Airbus previously projected the need for 14,560 narrowbody aircraft across Asia-Pacific markets between 2022 and 2041, while Boeing’s 2023 Market Outlook identified the region as representing at least 40% of global demand.

Photo: Simon Tang I Shutterstock.

According to Aviation Week, over 5,000 single-aisled aircraft are set to be active in Asia-Pacific-based fleets from 2032, doubling the current capacity. Airbus’ A320neo program, including the A321neo, is eyed to capture over 58% of the market share. In comparison, Boeing’s 737 program settles at around 41%, likely due to ongoing trade disputes between China and the United States.

Despite taking less than 1% of demand, COMAC’s C919 is swiftly gaining ground against its Western competitors. Earlier this week, China Eastern announced it would take on 100 Chinese-developed narrowbodies, with deliveries to be staggered between 2023 and 2028. Carriers Air China, China Southern, Hainan Airlines, Hebei Airlines, Joy Air, and Sichuan Airlines also hold orders for a combined 90 aircraft, with COMAC’s current backlog at around 700 jets.

What are your thoughts on Cathay Pacific’s latest order? What other aircraft would you like to see the carrier operate? Let us know in the comments.

Sources: Aviation Week, Reuters