The airline virtually stands alone in its efforts to enhance the international reputation of the city, proving its mettle in the wake of the Sars crisis
The content of the judging panel's deliberations over the International Award in the DHL/SCMP Business Awards 2003 is a matter of speculation, but it is a fair guess that Cathay Pacific Airways was an easy choice.
One criteria is that the winning company's activities should 'enhance Hong Kong's international reputation' and it is difficult to think of an organisation that did as much as Cathay to bolster our global standing in the wake of the Sars crisis.
As deputy chairman and chief executive David Turnbull points out, Cathay Pacific is perhaps Hong Kong's best-known brand name.
The letters HSBC may be more ubiquitous overseas than CX, but outside Asia the bank's initials are by no means universally known for what they represent.
For the thousands of people flown here by the carrier in the wake of Sars, the airline and the city are synonymous. Cathay proved its mettle as our flag carrier.