Cathay Pacific will start hiring new staff later this year, ending a recruitment freeze imposed after the September 11 attacks.
The airline's director of corporate development, Tony Tyler, said the airline will start hiring pilots, cabin crew and ground staff 'quite soon' to prepare for expansion next year.
'Traffic is on the up again and so we will start growing again . . . We will need more staff,' he said.
However, he refused to reveal the numbers to be hired ahead of a formal public announcement expected this week.
Aviation analysts said the return to hiring was quicker than many had expected, and a sign of recovery in passenger demand.
Cathay froze recruitment last September in the wake of the US terror attacks, and later offered staff voluntary unpaid leave.
SG Securities analyst Robert Sassoon said Cathay will receive two new leased planes later this year, and return to the skies four out of five planes currently grounded for lack of demand.