The Cathay Group has reported robust passenger and cargo growth for April 2026, driven by resilient leisure travel demand, major international events, and strong cargo performance, even as soaring jet fuel prices linked to ongoing Middle East tensions continued to place pressure on airline operating costs.
According to the group’s latest traffic figures, both Cathay Pacific and HK Express recorded healthy passenger growth during the month, while cargo operations maintained solid momentum across key international trade corridors.
However, the airline group acknowledged that elevated fuel prices — exacerbated by geopolitical instability in the Middle East and the continuing Iran conflict — remain a significant operational challenge for global carriers. (cathaypacific.com, reuters.com)
Passenger Demand Remains Strong
Cathay Pacific carried nearly 2.77 million passengers in April 2026, representing a 16.5 per cent increase compared with the same month last year. Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPKs) rose by 17.8 per cent, while passenger load factors climbed to an impressive 88.2 per cent.
For the first four months of 2026, the airline transported more than 10.75 million passengers, reflecting year-on-year growth of 19 per cent.
Lavinia Lau, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer of the Cathay Group, attributed the strong performance to seasonal holiday traffic, event-driven demand, and resilient leisure travel across both regional and long-haul markets.
Travel demand surged during the Easter holiday period and continued through mid-April, boosted by international events such as the Hong Kong Sevens, which generated strong inbound traffic into Hong Kong.
Towards the end of the month, pre-holiday bookings associated with China’s Golden Week further stimulated outbound and inbound traffic across Cathay Pacific’s global network.
The airline also noted continued strength in premium cabin demand, supported by international trade exhibitions and corporate events taking place in Hong Kong.
Middle East Tensions Impact Route Planning
Despite maintaining positive growth momentum, Cathay Group confirmed that it has extended the temporary suspension of passenger services to Dubai and Riyadh until the end of August 2026 due to weakened travel demand and regional instability.
The airline stated that capacity originally allocated to Middle East services would instead be redeployed to high-demand European destinations including Manchester and Rome, where customer demand remains robust.
Nevertheless, Cathay Group reiterated that it remains on track to achieve its overall 2026 passenger capacity growth target of approximately 10 per cent despite a limited number of flight cancellations earlier in May and June. (reuters.com)
Cargo Division Continues Global Expansion
Cargo operations also delivered strong results in April, with Cathay Cargo transporting more than 144 million kilograms of cargo during the month — an 8.2 per cent increase year-on-year.
Available Freight Tonne Kilometres (AFTKs) increased by 7.4 per cent, while overall cargo tonnage for the first four months of 2026 rose by 7.8 per cent.
The airline highlighted particularly strong demand from Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Americas, while specialist logistics solutions continued to perform strongly. Semiconductor shipments across Asia and technology exports from North America contributed significantly to growth in Cathay’s specialised cargo services, including Cathay Expert and Cathay Dangerous Goods.
The airline also reported healthy growth in pharmaceutical shipments from Europe into mainland China through its Cathay Pharma solution.
Further strengthening its regional cargo network, Cathay Cargo recently added Bangkok to its freighter operations network earlier this month.
HK Express Maintains Steady Growth
Low-cost subsidiary HK Express also posted positive results, carrying close to 730,000 passengers in April 2026 — a year-on-year increase of nearly 5 per cent.
Strong demand on Thailand routes and services to secondary cities across Northeast Asia continued to support growth, while bookings for upcoming travel periods remain ahead of the previous year across most destinations.
Outlook Remains Positive Despite Market Volatility
Looking ahead to the summer peak travel season, Cathay Group indicated that both Cathay Pacific and HK Express would maintain their planned July and August schedules to support Hong Kong’s role as a major international aviation hub.
However, the airline acknowledged a gradual shift in consumer booking patterns, with travellers increasingly making reservations closer to departure dates amid broader global economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
Industry observers note that while elevated fuel prices and geopolitical risks continue to affect airline profitability worldwide, Cathay Group’s strong operational performance, diversified network strategy, and balanced passenger-cargo business model position it well for continued recovery and expansion throughout 2026.
