Summary

  • Cathay Pacific CEO Ronald Lam is in search of a widebody replacement for the A330-300 fleet.
  • Options on the table include the A350, Boeing 787, and the A330neo, with an order coming later this year.
  • Fleet renewal plan is underway, with 50% completion, including six Airbus A350Fs and multiple aircraft on order.

Cathay Pacific CEO Ronald Lam has confirmed that the carrier is continuing its search for a widebody replacement for its Airbus A330-300 fleet. The airline says that the Airbus A350, Boeing 787, and Airbus A330neo are on the table, with an order to be placed later this year.

A fleet of Cathay Pacific airplanes parked side by side.

Photo: Terry K | Shutterstock

The CEO did not reveal any additional information and warned that details such as the number of planes included in the order would not be disclosed just yet.

The current A330 fleet

Cathay operates 49 Airbus A330-300s per ch-aviation data. The aircraft have an average age of 17.4 years and offer a combined capacity of 14,150 seats for the carrier.

This is particularly relevant given how significantly the aircraft weigh on overall seat capacity. The runner-up is the 38-example Boeing 777-300ER fleet, which offers 12,430 seats. The A330s represent just under 30% of the overall Cathay seat capacity.

A Cathay Pacific Airbus A330 flying in the sky.

Photo: Suparat Chairatprasert | Shutterstock

In other words, the type’s replacement is not an easy choice; a balance must be found between fuel efficiency, range, capacity among other factors.

At a media briefing at the IATA conference earlier this week in Dubai, CEO Ronald Lam noted the options included the A330neo, the A350, and the 787. It currently operates a fleet of 30 A350-900s.

The RFI

Back in November, Simple Flying revealed that the Hong Kong-based airline was in the market for a new aircraft capable of flying efficiently in the medium to medium-long haul sector. This was defined as distances between 2,751 miles (4,427 kilometers) and 5,000 mi (8,046 km). Simple Flying noted the possibility of the Airbus A330neo, given its popularity within the region, as Malaysia Airlines placed an order for the type back in August 2022. In Asia, more than 100 A330neo aircraft are on order overall.

This was confirmed in January when Cathay revealed that it had issued a Request for Information (RFI) in an attempt to replace its A330 fleet with newer widebody jets. The carrier noted that the order could include the A330neo, the A350, or the 787.

A Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 landing

Photo: alphonsusjimos | Shutterstock

In a statement to Simple Flying at the time, the airline said:

“Cathay is committed to continuing to invest in expanding and modernising our fleet with state-of-the-art aircraft to support our growth plans. We regularly review our fleet development plans in accordance with our future requirements. We are evaluating options for a versatile, mid-sized widebody aircraft that can undertake a range of missions and grow our passenger and cargo business.”

The fleet renewal campaign

The order this year will be part of the carrier’s fleet renewal plan, which Lam says is progressing well. In December, Cathay ordered six Airbus A350Fs from Airbus in an agreement that also included options for 20 more. In addition, the carrier has several aircraft on order, listed as follows per ch-aviation data.

  • 15 Airbus A321Ns
  • 4 Airbus A321NXs
  • 21 Boeing 777-9s

Lam says that as it stands, the fleet renewal is approximately 50% of the way through completion.

Related

Cathay Group Commits To 32 Airbus A320neo Family Aircraft

Cathay Pacific and HK Express will receive more narrowbodies as the group exercises its purchase options.


  • Cathay Pacific Tile

    Cathay Pacific

    IATA/ICAO Code:
    CX/CPA

    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier

    Hub(s):
    Hong Kong International Airport

    Year Founded:
    1946

    Alliance:
    oneworld

    CEO:
    Ronald Lam

    Country:
    China (Special Administrative Region)

    Region:
    Asia

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