General News
10 June, 2025
Second return for Cathay
CATHAY Pacific has agreed to return to Cairns for a second seasonal service, this time during the peak Christmas and lunar new year holiday periods.
The 12-week schedule paves the way for a permanent route between Hong Kong and the Far North.
Cathay Pacific will operate three direct flights per week between Hong Kong and Cairns from December 9 to February 28, centred around the peak lunar new year period and Christmas holidays.
Cairns Airport chief executive officer Richard Barker said the renewed seasonal service would build on last year’s success.
“The Cathay Pacific brand is highly regarded across Tropical North Queensland and we are thrilled our strengthened partnership has led to further, ongoing opportunities that will benefit our wider community and key industries. This is a new era in our relationship with Cathay Pacific and a major coup for our region,” he said.
“We expect thousands of additional tourists will choose Tropical North Queensland for their festive holidays this year and to welcome the Year of the Horse. This service will inject an estimated $18 million into the economy in visitor expenditure alone and give locals more overseas leisure options as they plan their extended end-of-year leave. It will also bolster valuable direct export channels that were successfully established last year through the Cathay Pacific network.”
The service will deliver more than 20,000 seats across the season on an A330 aircraft.
Cathay Southwest Pacific regional general manager Frosti Lau said he was pleased to see the service return after a successful first season.
