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Hong Kong transit passengers give Cathay Pacific a lift to start second half of the year
- Airline records 59 per cent jump in number of people flying in July
- Two-month window for mainland China transfers also expected to give carrier a boost
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A jump in transit customers boosted Cathay Pacific Airways’ travel volumes in July, contributing to a 59 per cent monthly increase in passengers, the airline said on Friday.
The performance offered a slightly positive start to the second half of the financial year for the airline, which is receiving a government bailout to cope with the slump amid the coronavirus pandemic.
On Wednesday, it reported a record first-half loss of HK$9.87 billion (US$1.27 billion).
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The rise in Cathay’s passenger numbers last month underscored the benefits from Hong Kong as a major airport transit hub, with air travel hammered by the global fight against Covid-19.
Hong Kong has allowed flight transfers since June 1, and the airport will further open to transit flights from mainland China from Saturday for two months. Previously, all transit services had been suspended from March 25.
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Cathay Pacific warns of historic HK$9.9 billion loss due to coronavirus pandemic
Cathay Pacific warns of historic HK$9.9 billion loss due to coronavirus pandemic
“Passenger volume showed signs of slight improvement in the beginning of July, fuelled by a boost in the number of transit passengers via Hong Kong,” said Ronald Lam Siu-por, the airline’s chief customer and commercial officer.
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