Cathay Pacific is betting that demand for luxurious, long-haul journey will proceed to develop with its first order for brand new Boeing planes in additional than a decade.
The Hong Kong-based service on Wednesday ordered 14 extra Boeing 777-9s for a complete of 35 agency commitments for the aircraft. Cathay expects its first 777-9 in 2027 if certification of the brand new mannequin that’s already 5 years late doesn’t face extra delays.
When the 777-9 is delivered, Cathay has huge plans for the big twin-aisle jet, a part of Boeing’s delayed Boeing 777X household. The airline goals to unveil its new long-haul first-class product on the plane, executives have mentioned. It debuted a brand new business-class product, the Aria Suite, earlier this yr.
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The Aria Suites characteristic a wraparound seat design with a lie-flat mattress, a privateness door, a 24-inch private touchscreen TV and different high-tech options.
Lavinia Lau, Cathay’s chief buyer and industrial officer, mentioned Wednesday that the 777-9s will arrive in two layouts: one with 4 courses — first, enterprise, premium financial system and financial system — and a higher-density configuration with three courses.
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The 777-9 stands to be amongst Cathay’s largest planes. Boeing lists the plane as seating 426 passengers in a regular two-class structure. Cathay will possible put fewer seats on its 777-9s owing to a extra premium-heavy configuration than Boeing’s generic specs.
Cathay’s largest aircraft at present is the Boeing 777-300ER that has as much as 438 seats in a high-density structure and as few as 294 seats in its most luxurious, four-class configuration. Cathay’s subsequent largest plane is the Airbus A350-1000 with seats for 334 passengers in three courses — enterprise, premium financial system and financial system.
Along with the brand new airplane order, Cathay has shifted into development mode after a sluggish restoration from the COVID-19 pandemic. The service started flights to Dallas Fort Price Worldwide Airport (DFW), its sixth U.S. vacation spot and the biggest hub of associate American Airways, in April. Moreover, it plans to transfer to the brand new Terminal 6 at New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK), the place it’ll open a brand new, premium lounge someday in 2026.
“Journey demand for Cathay Pacific stays strong and we are going to proceed so as to add extra flights and locations for our prospects, along with introducing extra buyer expertise enhancements,” Patrick Healy, chair of the Cathay Group, mentioned in an announcement.
As a part of Cathay’s newest Boeing order, the airline additionally has buy rights for seven extra planes that, if exercised, might enhance its fleet of 777-9s to 42 plane.
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