Cathay Pacific Guide
The origins of Cathay Pacific are traced back to 1946. Two entrepreneurs, Roy C. Farrell of the United States and Sydney H. de Kantzow of Australia, combined forces to create Cathay Pacific. The name was chosen to honour the ancient name of China, as well as the hope of the two founders that the airline would grow to include flights across the Pacific to major destinations. By the end of the century, Cathay had more than fulfilled those early aspirations, including achieving the world's first non-stop flight over the North Pole in 1998. This opened the door for additional flights during the early years of the 21st century that took the airline to new destinations at major cities throughout North America.
Cathay Pacific History & Information
Cathay Pacific maintains its headquarters at the Hong Kong International Airport. Several focus cities are also part of the overall structure of the airline, including Taipei, where Cathay maintains a strong presence at the Taiwan Taoyhuan International Airport. Bangkok is also a focus city for the airline, with operations based at the Suvarnabhumi Airport. The operation in Bangkok serves as the single destination that Cathay serves in the country of Thailand.
Cathay Pacific Routes
Altogether, Cathay Pacific offers flights to a total of 114 destinations around the world. The destinations involve a total of 36 countries. In order to manage its traffic efficiently, Cathay utilises a network that includes code-shares and joint ventures. The airline also operates a wholly owned subsidiary known as Dragonair, which offers flights to various destinations in the Asia-Pacific region, with the flights originating in Hong Kong.
Several regions in Asia are covered by a number of flights offered by the airline. Along with the Hong Kong services, Cathay also offers flights to and from the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing. Two other locations in the People's Republic of China enjoy Cathay Pacific's services: the Xiamen Gaoqu International Airport in Xiamen, and the Pudong International Airport in Shanghai. While the Shanghai service offers both passenger and cargo options, the Xiamen service is for cargo only.
Japan also enjoys Cathay services to and from several major cities. The Chubu Centrair International Airport in Nagoya is the site of daily flights, as is the Narita International Airport in Tokyo. Flights to and from Osaka are managed from the Kansai International Airport. Sapporo and Fukuoka also enjoy regular services, via flights to and from the New Chitose Airport and the Fukuoka Airport respectively.
Services to other key cities throughout Asia are also provided on a daily basis. These include services to the Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh, as well as flights to and from Chennai, Delhi, and Mumbai in India. Cathay also provides services to Jakarta in Indonesia, Manila in the Philippines, and Singapore, at the Singapore International Airport.
Several countries in Europe enjoy Cathay Pacific service. Belgium is served via flights to and from the Brussels Airport, along with flights to and from Paris at the Charles de Gaulle Airport. Service to and from the Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome as well as the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in Amsterdam in the Netherlands is also common. In the United Kingdom, Cathay offers flights at the London Heathrow Airport, as well as the Manchester Airport.
In North America, Cathay covers major points in both Canada and the United States. For Canada, the airline provides services to and from the Toronto Pearson International Airport, as well as the Vancouver International Airport. Major passenger and cargo services in the United States include the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, the Los Angeles International Airport, and the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.
The Cathay Pacific Fleet
In order to offer passengers the best in accommodation, Cathay Pacific utilises several types of aircraft. Among some of the more well known are the Boeing 747-400, the Airbus A330-300, and the Boeing 777-300ER. The long haul flights offer three classes of service: First, long haul Business, and Economy.
The airline offers two loyalty programmes. Known simply as The Club, the Marco Polo Club provides several different tiers of membership, with each one offering a specified range of benefits and amenities. The Green tier is the entry level into the programme, and includes benefits like designated check-in counters, an ample baggage allowance, and priority boarding. The Silver tier can enjoy advance seat reservations, as well as access to the Business class lounges at a number of destinations. The Gold tier passengers enjoy guaranteed Economy class seating as well as access to lounges at a number of airports. The Diamond tier provides top priority wait-listing, first-class check-in services, and priority baggage handling.
Additional Information
Cathay Pacific offers state of the art technology for processing check-in services, as well as baggage checking. The airline has also launched a Mobile Boarding Pass application that allows passengers to check in using a mobile phone, and trigger the generation of a boarding pass. In recent years, Cathay has begun to phase in newer designs for passenger cabins, providing roomier seating and a wider range of entertainment options, including flat beds for First Class accommodation.