Cathay Pacific’s famous first class suites are back on the menu, right alongside a Krug 2004 Vintage and some fine dining. Services between Hong Kong (HKG) and London Heathrow (LHR) are already up and running, with Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Tokyo Haneda (HND) set to relaunch in early 2023.
Back in the sky
After a three-year-long hiatus, the Hong Kong-based carrier has relaunched premium services. Cathay Pacific’s first class product was paused in the early days of the pandemic following a steep decline in passenger figures.
As a result of this, the airline returned certain first-class-equipped 777s to their lessors, and they found their way to Qatar Airways. But, as China starts to reopen for tourism, Cathay Pacific will be running the premium capable Boeing 777s for itself.
Cathay Pacific’s popular Hong Kong – London route is the first to operate post-pandemic first class flights, conveniently coinciding with a doubling of capacity, which will see fourteen weekly services connect the two cities.
Although several weeks away, tickets are already on sale for first class flights to Paris and Tokyo, which are set to resume on January 18 and February 1, respectively.
“We are extremely excited to be bringing back our first class service after an extended absence as the world’s appetite for travel comes roaring back,” enthused Vivian Lo, General Manager Customer Experience and Design at Cathay Pacific.
“We know our customers have been eagerly anticipating being able to fly first class with us again, and we are delighted to be offering it on routes that we know are incredibly popular with them."
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First-class services
As one of the most expensive premium products on the market, Cathay Pacific’s fine dining offerings are a quintessential part of the travel experience.
In celebration of the relaunch, luxury passengers will find three new champagnes and a locally produced craft beer on the drinks list, as well as JING teas and cold-pressed juices for those after a non-alcoholic tipple. New food options, including wellness and authentic Hong Kong dishes, have been added, including sustainably and ethnically sourced pork from Dingley Dell Farm in Suffolk, Nordic Skrei cod, and free-range eggs.
Return of Cathay
The return of first class paints a positive picture for the carrier as it starts to accelerate its post-pandemic recovery plans.
Strict travel restrictions in China saw passenger figures in Hong Kong drop to less than 1.5 million in 2021, a 98% decrease in 2019’s numbers. The decline had a significant knock-on effect on Cathay Pacific, which was reportedly operating at just 2% of its pre-pandemic capacity in January of this year.
As China relaxes its entry policies, tourists and businesses have been gradually returning to Hong Kong, ramping up demand for the carrier.
Traffic is currently concentrated in the East, covering flights to nearby hubs Bangkok (BKK), Singapore Changi (SIN), and Seoul-Incheon (ICN). However, an increase in capacity for the European market signals Cathay Pacific is looking to hit pre-pandemic levels well before its initial 2024 estimate.
Have you flown first class with Cathay Pacific? What was your experience? Let us know in the comments.
Source: CAPA Centre for Aviation
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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
-
London Heathrow Airport
- IATA/ICAO Code:
- LHR-EGLL
- Country:
- United Kingdom
- CEO:
- John Holland-Kaye
- Passenger Count :
- 19,392,178 (2021)
- Runways :
- 09L/27R - 3,902m (12,802ft) | 09R/27L - 3,660m (12,008ft)
- Terminals:
- Terminal 2 | Terminal 3 | Terminal 4 | Terminal 5
