Cathay Pacific to buy 11 Airbus aircraft for US$5.1 bn

Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific said Wednesday it has ordered 11 more Airbus jets in a deal worth US$5.1 billion.

The 11 A330-900 jets "will support the growth of Cathay Pacific's regional network and provide it with more passenger and cargo capacity", the company said in a press release.

Its filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange put the deal at US$5.1 billion.


Cathay announced in the same statement it was also ordering three more Airbus A321neo narrowbody aircraft for its budget airline HK Express.

"While the A321neo will further build on HK Express' growth potential with its focus on destinations in the Chinese Mainland and other short-haul routes," the statement added.

The 11 A330-900 aircraft are expected to be delivered between 2031 and 2035.

CEO Ronald Lam said the "state-of-the-art, fuel-efficient aircraft" would upgrade Cathay's total fleet, and "enhance connectivity at our home hub Hong Kong".