The Hong Kong airline orders 30 Airbus A330-900s. However, the model will play a different role at Cathay Pacific than at Condor, for example.
Condor relies entirely on it for long-haul flights. The Lufthansa Group has not ordered it itself, but it will be in the group fleet through the takeover of ITA Airways. And now Cathay Pacific has also decided on the Airbus A330-900.
Less than two weeks after the Farnborough Airshow, which was relatively low in orders, the Hong Kong airline and Airbus announced that Cathay Group had placed a firm order for 30 A330-900s. The airline emphasizes in its statement that it has also acquired purchase rights for an additional 30 jets. Deliveries are planned to begin in 2028.
These models also ordered
The A330-900 is the larger version of the A330 Neo. At Cathay, the new aircraft will gradually replace the A330-300, of which the airline has 43 (34 active, nine currently parked), which are 16 years old on average. “These new aircraft will primarily serve our regional destinations in Asia,” says Cathay Group boss Ronald Lam, “but will also provide the flexibility to fly to long-haul destinations if needed.”
The company explains its fleet modernization program: “Cathay now has more than 100 new generation aircraft in the delivery pipeline, with the right to acquire more than 80 additional aircraft in the future.” In terms of firm orders placed by Cathay directly with the manufacturers, these include eight Airbus A320 Neo, another 36 A321 Neo, six Airbus A350 F as well as 21 Boeing 777X and now 30 A330-900.
This is what the fleet looks like right now
According to the aviation data portal, there is currently a Cathay Pacific fleet CH Aviation from 161 active aircraft and 18 parked aircraft. The models: Airbus A321 Neo, A330-300, A350-900 and -1000, Boeing 747-400 F, Boeing 747-8 F and Boeing 777-300 and -300 ER.
The Cathay Dragon also used to be owned by the Cathay Group. In fall 2020, it was dissolved and integrated into Cathay Pacific.