Cathay Pacific plans Airbus A350-1000 for Sydney this year
By David Flynn, February 1 2018
Cathay Pacific aims to bring its new Airbus A350-1000 jet to Sydney in the second half of 2018 to keep pace with continued growth on the Sydney-Hong Kong route.
The advanced jet – which Cathay will begin flying from April – will replace the smaller Airbus A330 on the daily CX110/CX111 flight.
"We're keen to see how we can grow (that flight) so we are planning for an A350-1000 in 2018," Cathay Pacific's General Manager for the South West Pacific region, Rakesh Raicar, tells Australian Business Traveller.
The Oneworld member has already upgraded its other three daily flights between Sydney and Hong Kong to Boeing 777-300ERs, which carry 340 passengers compared to 334 for the Airbus A350-1000.
Raicar says a rolling upgrade to Cathay's Australian network will see all of the Airbus A330s replaced by the larger jets within the next three years.
"The plan is to progressively upgrade all A330s in Australia to either an A350-900, an A350-1000 or a Boeing 777-300ER by 2020."
However, that network is unlikely include Canberra, with Raicar scotching rumours that Cathay will join Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways in launching flights to the Australian capital.
"Cathay looks at market demand and market potential on a regular basis, we always explore opportunities where we can expand out network, but Canberra is not in the planning stage at all."
First class is also not on the cards for Sydney or Melbourne's Boeing 777-300ER jets.
While Raicar allows that "there is a first class demand, " he says "the current three-class configuration (in Sydney and Melbourne) is a better configuration for this market and is giving us a good return."
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 May 2017
Total posts 17
That's fine but hope the cattle class toilet ratio has improved. On my recent trip by A350 from LGW to HK, there were not enough toilets and one of them had run out of water for handwash. Maybe you can judge an airline by its toilets? And Cathay somehow sells all its seats between HK and LGW which suggests it is getting students from HK on cheap deals. Also I am not proud of going cattle class, but am not happy at being lined up some minutes in advance at HK before boarding... That is the ultimate cattle line after other lines of star passengers. ...This does not happen at Gatwick or Tulla and seems part of the Chinese classless society!.. But hey.. I love Cathay..the best flight crew, great service and excellent seats.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Mar 2012
Total posts 233
Cathay has 6 loos for economy in their A350s, while Singapore Airlines and Qatar have 5. While there are slightly less economy seats on SIA, there are more on Qatar. Which means that if anything, Cathay actually installed above the standard amount of loos in Y.
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 May 2017
Total posts 17
I entirely agree. All references to "cattle class" shall be henceforth withdrawn. Substitute "economy" which means "cheap" or "inferior". But with a full complemnt of passengers on a long haul, the toilet situation was overstretched. .... I have booked another trip with Cathay and prefer Hong Kong to certain Arab hubs.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Oct 2014
Total posts 687
"While Raicar allows that "there is a first class demand, " he says "the current three-class configuration (in Sydney and Melbourne) is a better configuration for this market and is giving us a good return."
I'm sure that Qantas could adequately take this issue off Cathay's hand - and make the F Class seats on the A380-800 service a 'saleable' entity.
F Class upgrades might be nice for Frequent Flyers, but don't produce a lot of revenue. Good opportunity to actually address the market.
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1031
However, without an increase to allowed flights in the air service agreement, they can only expand the network by flying to airports like ADL, CBR, DRW, OOL or CNS.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Aug 2012
Total posts 212
@Himeno. CX already fly to/from ADL. It is an almost daily service, with the downside of a very early morning departure which necessitates an overnight in Adelaide the night before. There is no airport hotel, but one has been talked about for a while but no action, as is the Adelaide custom.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Apr 2012
Total posts 319
Not sure if you're from Adelaide or have been in Adelaide in the last year or not... but that big building they are building in front of the Terminal is an Airport Hotel...
07 Oct 2012
Total posts 1250
@MissBasset
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
15 Jul 2016
Total posts 14
There are a number of Adelaide Airport motels and hotels within a 15 minute ride, just not on campus, somewhat like Sydney really (but not Melbourne). And as the writer above notes, the new build at the terminal entrance is to be a hotel. I’ve never quite understood the somewhat ignorant brush offs afforded Adelaide, my home of which I am rightfully proud.
13 Nov 2015
Total posts 49
Just rejoice in that news. The downside is not having F. CX has a great product even with some of small tweaks they have had to make owing to financial difficulties. Let's be pleased to have CX as a choice to HK instead of the big 3 mainland carriers. The other fantastic alternatives to HK are QF and Virgin. I would add China Airlines with one change, of course, enroute. It's a great time for commercial aviation.
13 Feb 2018
Total posts 7
David,
However, that network is unlikely include Canberra ..
--> However, that network is unlikely to include Canberra ...
02 May 2018
Total posts 3
Any word on when will this be introduced to Sydney? I just booked CX111 for 20/9 and the seat map looks like the old A330
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