CATHAY PAC AIR (00293) has announced its operational statistics for May 2026, showing a year-on-year increase in both passenger and cargo volumes.

The airline's passenger traffic for May 2026 rose by 17% compared to the same month in 2025, with available seat kilometers increasing by 10%. For the cumulative first five months of 2026, passenger numbers have grown by 19% year-on-year.

On the cargo side, Cathay Cargo reported an 11% increase in tonnage for May 2026 compared to May 2025, while available cargo tonne kilometers grew by 6%. For the January to May period, cargo volume is up 8% compared to the same timeframe last year.

Its subsidiary, HK Express, carried over 670,000 passengers in May 2026, a 5% increase from the previous year, with available seat kilometers up 4%. For the first five months of the year, HK Express's passenger traffic has increased by 12%.

CATHAY PAC AIR's Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, Lavinia Lau, commented on the results, stating, "Despite persistently high jet fuel prices, our passenger and cargo businesses still achieved year-on-year growth in May. During the month, CATHAY PAC AIR and HK Express together carried over 3.3 million passengers, an increase of 14% from the same period last year. Cathay Cargo handled over 150,000 tonnes of cargo in May, up 11% year-on-year."

Lau also highlighted the group's ongoing network expansion, noting that CATHAY PAC AIR plans to launch direct flights to Almaty in the first quarter of 2027. This destination will be the airline's first in Central Asia, strengthening Hong Kong's connection to key regions under the Belt and Road Initiative. Additionally, HK Express will commence daily direct services to Wuxi starting in July.