bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Danny Lee

Cathay Dragon is planning a bumper order of 23 new Airbus or Boeing planes to replace its ageing single-aisle aircraft in a potential HK$20 billion deal.
The newly rebranded sister airline of Cathay Pacific – formerly known as Dragonair – is in the market for technologically advanced jets that will pit Airbus’s A320neo against Boeing’s 737 Max in the operator’s biggest order since 2000.
Cathay Pacific and Dragonair ban use of new Samsung Galaxy phones on planes
The modernisation drive comes amid a slowdown in business this year for aircraft manufacturers. With expensive new planes losing their shine at a time of economic and political uncertainty and old, fuel-hungry jets becoming more cost-effective with low oil prices, airlines have deferred deliveries or even cancelled orders.
Bucking the trend, Cathay Dragon is investing billions in new aircraft despite a tough financial year that forced its parent company, the Cathay Pacific Group, to scrap profitability forecasts.
HK$109 surcharge for Cathay and Dragonair passengers flying into Hong Kong after wrong-way bet on oil prices
Cathay Pacific chief operating officer and Cathay Dragon director Rupert Hogg told the Post the airline was midway through a review known as a “request for proposal” for the replacement of its entire narrow-body fleet. The first of the advanced jetliners could arrive in 2019.
“There is a great choice of aircraft, some with extended range if you want it, and the efficiency and customer experience that come with all of these new aircraft are fantastic,” Hogg said. “It will be great for Cathay Dragon, and it’s about some growth opportunity too.”
The efficiency and customer experience that come with all of these new aircraft are fantastic
Rupert Hogg, Cathay Dragon director
The airline currently has a fleet of 15 Airbus A320s, each with a seating capacity of up to 168 passengers and eight larger A321s that can accommodate 172 passengers each.
The oldest A320 will have been in service for 22 years when it is replaced, and the A321s will have tallied 23 years.
A single A320neo costs US$107.3 million and an A321neo US$125.7 million, bringing the total maximum cost for Cathay Dragon to HK$20.2 billion. But airlines typically negotiate deep discounts for large orders.
Hogg explained the new planes would allow Cathay Dragon to fly smaller jets and increase the number of flights per destination instead of operating larger wide-body aircraft.
“Depending on how many seats you will put in whatever aircraft we buy, you might replace a wide body with a narrow body,” he said. “You can right-size and right-frequency. You might put in more frequency and less capacity.”

Cathay Dragon has been a long-standing Airbus customer, flying regionally to the mainland, north Asia and Southeast Asia.
The new A320neo and the Boeing Max 737-9 are more fuel-efficient than the airline’s current aircraft and can fly up to eight hours, enabling flights to more far-flung regional destinations.
Cathay Pacific has started taking delivery of a HK$124 billion order of 48 Airbus A350s, nine of which have arrived. From 2021, it will take delivery of 21 Boeing 777-9Xs worth HK$58 billion.
Will Horton, an analyst for CAPA Centre for Aviation, said right-sizing was a trend: “For decades, airlines flew over-sized aircraft because only those had the range. Now, new narrow bodies can enter mid-haul territory while A350s and [Boeing] 787s can fly what used to require a 747 or 777.”


From ice hockey to sevens, here’s some of what lies ahead for Hong Kong sport in 2026

China’s C919 maker teams up with China Eastern with a bigger variant on the cards: sources

Swire Pacific’s Guy Bradley to take reins at Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific, Swire Coca-Cola

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific investigates wrong taxiway use at Manila airport

Cathay Pacific

Hong Kong’s Cathay Dragon plans HK$20b aircraft replacement programme

Cathay Dragon plans to replace its ageing fleet over the coming years. Photo: Dennis Ho.

Cathay Pacific unveil the new logo of Cathay Dragon(top). The iconic red dragon logo of the three-decade-old Dragonair, Hong Kong’s first local airline, will make way for Cathay Pacific Airways’ signature brushwing after the rebranding plan. 28JAN16 SCMP/ Dickson Lee

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific to introduce 10-abreast seating in its Boeing planes

The new size seats proposed for economy class on Cathay Pacific Boeing 777s

scmp

Cathay Pacific celebrates the arrival of its first A350 aircraft. 30MAY16 SCMP/Edward Wong

News

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Economy

Sister airline of Cathay Pacific will opt for new Airbus or Boeing aircraft in move which could see it extend its regional range


Cathay Dragon

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | Hong Kong’s Cathay Dragon plans HK$20b aircraft replacement programme

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Sister airline of Cathay Pacific will opt for new Airbus or Boeing aircraft in move which could see it extend its regional range

Exclusive | Hong Kong’s Cathay Dragon plans HK$20b aircraft replacement programme

Sister airline of Cathay Pacific will opt for new Airbus or Boeing aircraft in move which could see it extend its regional range