Cathay sees year-on-year growth in pax numbers and cargo volumes

Cathay Pacific said it carried 12% more passengers in June 2026 compared with June 2025, while Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs) increased by 6%. In the first six months of 2026, the number of passengers carried increased by 17% compared with the same period for 2025. Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “The Cathay Group continued our growth momentum in June, although jet fuel prices remained elevated. Cathay Pacific and HK Express carried a combined total of more than 3.1 million passengers, while Cathay Cargo carried around 145,000 tonnes of cargo, both representing an increase of 9% year on year. Meanwhile, we continue to enhance connectivity for our customers, with HK Express having recently launched direct daily flights to Wuxi, further expanding the Group’s network in the Chinese Mainland.” Lavinia said: “The start of June has historically been a softer period for passenger travel demand, but this year load factors remained elevated, amplified by increased traffic through Hong Kong due to the Middle East situation. This was further supported by the mid-month Dragon Boat Festival long weekend, which drove healthy outbound demand from Hong Kong to various short-haul destinations, followed by inbound student traffic from long-haul markets in the latter half of the month. Demand in our premium cabins also remained robust driven by strong corporate and premium leisure travel. The outlook for the summer peak remains encouraging, particularly across our long-haul network. Meanwhile, demand from Hong Kong to short-haul destinations continues to be robust, with the Chinese Mainland and other destinations in Northeast Asia being particularly popular.” Media Information Cathay Cargo Cathay Cargo carried 9% more cargo in June 2026 than in June 2025, while Available Freight Tonne Kilometres (AFTKs) increased by 1%. In the first six months of 2026, the total tonnage increased by 9% compared with the same period for 2025. Lavinia said: “Cargo tonnage recorded a solid year-on-year increase in June. During the month, we saw strong cargo flows from the Chinese Mainland into Southeast Asia alongside steady demand within Southeast Asia. Shipments into the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong remained resilient, while our specialist solutions continued to perform well, with semiconductor and pharmaceutical shipments supporting growth in Cathay Expert and Cathay Pharma respectively. Cathay Priority also saw strong demand into Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and the Americas, reflecting shippers’ need for time-definite solutions to replenish inventory. Looking ahead, we anticipate continued healthy cargo flows across our network. At the same time, we will monitor the potential impact on e-commerce flows following the introduction of new customs duties on low-value imports into Europe.” HK Express HK Express carried more than 560,000 passengers in June 2026, a decrease of 4% year on year, while Available Seat Kilometers (ASKs) decreased by 7%. In the first six months of 2026, the number of passengers carried increased by 10% compared with the same period for 2025. Lavinia said: “As with previous years, June is typically a period of softer travel demand for HK Express. That said, a few regions sustained solid performance during the month, with the Chinese Mainland, the Philippines and Thailand all recording passenger load factors above 85% — a double-digit percentage point increase compared with June the previous year. HK Express saw a reduction in year-on-year capacity in June 2026 due to the consolidation of a small number of flights to mitigate part of its increased fuel costs, as was announced in April 2026. Turning to the summer travel peak, bookings for July are ahead of last year.” First-half 2026 financial performance The Group is expected to record a consolidated profit attributable to shareholders of approximately HK$6.0 to HK$6.5 billion for the six-month period ended 30 June 2026 (“First-Half 2026”), which includes a gain on deemed partial disposal of associates of approximately HK$1.4 billion arising from the dilution of the Group’s equity interest in Air China Limited, as disclosed in the Company’s May 2026 Traffic Figures announcement dated 23 June 2026. This compares with a profit attributable to shareholders of around HK$3.7 billion for the six-month period ended 30 June 2025. Media Information The Group’s First-Half 2026 results were also positively impacted by continued solid demand for Cathay Pacific and Cathay Cargo, improved performance from HK Express, and stronger contributions from associates. 國泰集團公布2026年6月份客貨運量資料 並就2026年上半年財務表現提供最新資訊 月內客、貨運量持續錄得按年增長 國泰集團今天公布2026年6月份客、貨運量資料，並就2026年上半年財務表現提供最新資訊。 國泰顧客及商務總裁劉凱詩表示：「儘管航空燃油價格維持高企，集團於6月繼續保持增長勢頭。國泰航空與香港快運於月內合共載客超過310萬人次，國泰貨運載貨量約14.5萬噸，客貨運量均較去年同期增長9%。 「與此同時，我們繼續為顧客加強網絡聯繫。香港快運每日往返香港與無錫的新航線近日啟航，進一步拓展集團於內地的航線網絡。」 國泰航空 國泰航空於2026年6月份的載客量較2025年同月增加12%，可用座位公里數按年增加6%。在2026年首六個月，載客量較2025年同期增加了17%。 劉凱詩表示：「6月初的客運需求一向偏軟，惟受中東局勢影響，經香港轉機的客流增加，令載客率維持於較高水平。此外，月中的端午節長周末假期，推動由香港前往多個短途目的地的外遊需求。在6月下旬，留學生由長途海外市場返港，支持客運需求。與此同時，商務及高端休閒旅遊亦令前艙需求保持殷切。 「我們對暑期旅遊旺季的前景保持樂觀，尤其看好長途航線的表現。同時，由香港出發前往短途目的地的需求亦維持穩健，尤以內地及東北亞深受旅客歡迎。」 新聞資料 國泰貨運 國泰貨運於2026年6月的載貨量較2025年同月增加9%，可用貨物噸公里數按年增加1%。在2026年首六個月，載貨量較去年同期增加了9%。 劉凱詩表示：「6月的載貨量錄得穩健的按年增長，由內地運往東南亞的貨運需求暢旺，而東南亞區內的需求亦維持穩定。與此同時，運往內地與香港的貨運需求保持堅韌，而專業貨運方案亦繼續表現理想，其中半導體及醫藥品運輸分別帶動『國泰—特殊貨物運送』和『國泰—醫藥品運送』的業務增長。而『國泰優先運送』於香港、東南亞及美洲市場的需求亦旺盛，反映付貨人為補充庫存，對具時效保證的運輸解決方案需求殷切。 「展望未來，我們預期整個網絡的貨運需求將保持穩健。同時，我們會密切關注歐洲對低價值進口商品實施的新關稅政策，對電子商務貨運需求帶來的潛在影響。」 香港快運 香港快運於2026年6月接載超過56萬人次乘客，較2025年同月減少4%，可用座位公里數按年下跌7%。在2026年首六個月，載客量較去年同期增加了10%。 劉凱詩表示：「香港快運的客運需求在6月略為放緩，情況與近年相若。儘管如此，月內部分市場的表現穩健，其中內地、菲律賓及泰國航線的載客率均超過85%，較去年同月錄得雙位數百分點增長。月內，香港快運按2026年4月公布的計劃整合少量航班，以減輕燃油成本上漲的影響，整體運力較去年同期有所減少。展望暑期旅遊旺季，7月的預訂情況較去年同期為佳。」 新聞資料 2026年上半年財務表現 集團預計截至二零二六年六月三十日止六個月（「二零二六年上半年」）將錄得股東應佔綜合溢利約港幣六十至六十五億元，其中包括約港幣十四億元來自集團所持中國國際航空股份有限公司權益攤薄而產生的視作出售聯屬公司收益，有關事項已於公司二零二六年五月客、貨運量數據公告（日期為二零二六年六月二十三日）中披露。作為比較，截至二零二五年六月三十日止六個月則錄得的股東應佔溢利為港幣三十七億元。 集團二零二六年上半年的業績亦受惠於國泰航空及國泰貨運持續穩健的需求、香港快運表現改善，以及聯屬公司帶來較佳的盈利貢獻。 上述資料乃根據集團二零二六年上半年未經審核綜合管理賬目的初步審閱，以及公司董事局（「董事局」）現階段掌握的其他資訊所作出。於本公告所載日期，公司仍在就集團二零二六年上半年的業績作最後審閱。本公告所載資料乃根據內部管理紀錄及董事局現階段掌握的其他資訊編製，未經外聘核數師審閱。股東及潛在投資者務請參閱預期於二零二六年八月刊發的公司中期業績公告。 For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]