Cathay Pacific has announced plans to launch direct flights to Almaty, Kazakhstan’s commercial and cultural capital, in the first quarter of 2027. The airline plans to operate three flights per week using an Airbus A330-300 widebody aircraft, which will be the only direct service linking Hong Kong and Kazakhstan.
Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “Last year, we launched direct flights to Urumqi in Northwestern China, a city whose close proximity to Central Asia extended our reach not only in the Chinese Mainland, but also to other key destinations along the Belt and Road. As we celebrate ’80 Years Together’ with our home city, we are excited to build on that momentum by announcing plans to operate direct flights between Hong Kong and Almaty, our first ever destination in Central Asia, fostering new opportunities for people, cargo and capital flow with this dynamic region.”
Kazakhstan is Central Asia’s most developed economy with key industries including manufacturing, mining and industrial production. It is Hong Kong’s largest trading partner and leading export market in the region.
Meanwhile, demand between the Chinese Mainland and Central Asia has grown steadily in recent years, underpinned by trade, investment and Belt and Road activity. The country also has a growing tourism sector offering summer and winter outdoor activities and is set to host the Asian Winter Games in 2029.
Together, Cathay Pacific and HK Express operate close to 600 return flights per week to 33 Belt and Road destinations. The Group also operates more than 330 return flights per week between Hong Kong and 24 destinations in the Chinese Mainland.
New services to Seattle
On 30 March, the airline launched its non-stop passenger flights between Hong Kong and Seattle, providing customers with the only direct connection between the airline’s home city and Washington State’s vibrant cultural and tech capital. Operating five times per week, the new service extends the airline’s passenger network in North America to a total of nine destinations.
Travel demand was robust in April but jet fuel remain at elevated levels
Lau said: “April continued to present a mixed picture. Travel demand was robust and passenger load factors were high driven by holiday and seasonal travel, while cargo volumes were healthy. However, jet fuel prices remained at highly elevated levels amidst the ongoing Middle East situation, increasing cost pressures. We are remaining agile in our response and continue to monitor the developments closely.
“Looking ahead to the summer travel peak, Cathay Pacific and HK Express will maintain the integrity of our July and August flight schedules for our customers, business partners and the Hong Kong international aviation hub.”
From a passenger capacity perspective, the airline remains on track to reach its 2026 growth target of around 10% despite the small number of cancellations announced previously for May and June.
Further suspension of routes to Dubai and Riyadh to end August
In view of softened travel demand to the Middle East in the near term, Cathay has taken the decision to extend the suspension of its passenger services to Dubai and Riyadh until the end of August and redeploy the capacity to routes where customer demand is keen, such as Manchester and Rome.
