Cathay Pacific to Order upto 60 New Airbus A330 Aircraft

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HONG KONG- Cathay Pacific (CX) announces a significant fleet expansion with the purchase of 30 Airbus A330-900 wide-body aircraft. The Hong Kong-based airline secures options for an additional 30 planes, demonstrating a strong commitment to future growth.

The basic price for the initial 30 aircraft stands at approximately $11 billion, though Cathay confirms receiving substantial price concessions from Airbus.

Cathay Pacific Airbus A330 Order

The airline expects deliveries to conclude by the end of 2031, indicating a long-term strategic plan for fleet renewal and expansion, Reuters reported.

This acquisition marks a major investment in Cathay Pacific’s future operational capabilities and market positioning.

Cathay Pacific first hinted at the possibility of a mid-sized wide-body purchase in late 2022, indicating a carefully considered decision-making process.

Largest A330-300 Operator

Hong Kong-based carrier operates a fleet of 177 aircraft as of August 2024. The fleet includes all Airbus narrowbody jets and a mix of Airbus and Boeing Wide-body aircraft.

Cathay is actually the largest operator of A330-300 aircraft in the world. It has a fleet of 43 A330-300 with an average of 16 years and in multiple seating configurations. In total, it has operated 60 A330-300, 17 of which are retired. While Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines (DL) is the largest A330 family operator.

Cathay is planning to replenish its fleet with A330-900 as it will retire more A330-300 in the coming years. Furthermore, Cathay has placed an order for Boeing 777-9 to operate ultra-long-haul routes.

Cathay Pacific Airlines is also the launch customer and largest operator of Boeing 777-300 aircraft.

With this new purchase, Cathay will become the lead operator of A330neo aircraft. Asian and European carriers such as Flynas (XY) and Virgin Atlantic (VS) are placing orders for A330neo as Airbus gives them huge concessions to keep its plant running. This is a win-win situation for both airlines and manufacturers.

What are your thoughts on the Cathay Pacific Airbus Order? Have you flown on Airbus A330? Let us know in the comments.