Cathay Pacific has opened the most destinations

The largest contributor to new destinations is Cathay Pacific, which has opened and maintained service to 14 destinations since 2007. Growth has been recent, as Cathay expects to open seven destinations in the 15 months, from Tel Aviv in Mar-2017 to Dublin in Jun-2018. Most of the recent new destinations have been opened with the A350, which Cathay first received in mid-2016.

The A350 gave Cathay a smaller widebody suitable to thinner markets, especially in Europe, where Cathay expected to have a smaller-than-ideal footprint.

Besides the availability of new aircraft technology, Cathay wants to increase its competitiveness (especially against Hong Kong Airlines) by having a wider network, with each new destination supporting the rest of the network, given Cathay’s substantial transfer passenger volume. Cathay wants to become more agile, and this can be seen in its opening of seasonal service to Barcelona, Christichurch and Copenhagen. Previously, like most Asian peers, Cathay did not offer seasonal destinations.

Although Cathay’s geography affords it strong access to mainland China, the mainland is not its sole traffic source. Southeast Asia and the rest of Northeast Asia, as well as the Kangaroo Route, support long haul destination growth.

Source: CAPA / October 2017

Barcelona Air Route Development Committee

promotes Barcelona Airport intercontinental flight