Cathay Pacific brings second Airbus A350 to Sydney

Cathay Pacific is upgrading another of its four daily services between Sydney and Hong Kong to the newer Airbus A350. From 29 March 2020, flights CX100 (3:45pm from Sydney) and CX101 (11:55pm from Hong Kong) will be upgraded from a Boeing 777-300ER to to the modern Airbus A350-900.

This is the second Airbus A350 for the Sydney-Hong Kong route – CX110/CX111 moved to an A350 in October 2019 – and follows Cathay's steady rollout of the A350-900 and larger A350-1000 to other Australian cities including Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

While the Sydney swap means up to 60 fewer seats per flight – likely a result of lower demand to Hong Kong – passengers on the A350 will enjoy the newest seats, inflight Internet and a more comfortable ride thanks to the jet's higher cabin pressure and resulting lower cabin altitude, along with higher humidity levels.

If you're headed to Hong Kong and are keen to experience Cathay Pacific's A350, here are the flight to look for.

Note: these schedules and timings may change without notice.
Graphic: Executive Traveller

Flying on Cathay Pacific's Airbus A350

Cathay Pacific's Airbus A350 business class is similar to that of the Boeing 777, but sports several improvements in areas such as personal space.

ET review: Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 business class

Premium economy passengers also enjoy a newer and more functional seat with swing-out leg rests and a sharper in-flight entertainment screen.

Cathay Pacific's Airbus A350 has the carrier's latest premium economy seats.
Photo: Cathay Pacific

ET review: Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 premium economy

Regardless of travel class, the inclusion of inflight Internet on all Cathay Pacific Airbus A350s will prove useful for business travellers, especially on the outbound CX100 from Sydney to Hong Kong – as a 3:45pm departure, much of the working afternoon is wasted going through the airport.

Inflight WiFi on the Airbus A350s will be a great asset to business travellers.
Photo: Cathay Pacific

But with sky-high WiFi, you could turn that around and be productive for a few more hours, before finally relaxing for the rest of the evening and getting to Hong Kong before midnight.

Pricing for Cathay Pacific WiFi starts at US$10 for one hour and US$13 for up to six hours, although the US$20 flight pass covering your entire journey is best value. You can also switch your connection between devices, such as signing up on your laptop and later moving to a smartphone for the likes of WeChat or WhatsApp.

Read more: Your complete guide to Cathay Pacific inflight WiFi

Brandon Loo

Based in Perth, Brandon enjoys tucking into local delicacies, discovering new cocktails, and making aeroplane food look good on camera.