Cathay A330-900 order book reaches 41 aircraft
The agreement also includes three Airbus A321neo narrow-body planes for low-cost unit HK Express. Deliveries for the 11 wide-body jets are scheduled between 2031 and 2035. The transaction exercises purchase rights that lift Cathay's firm order book for A330-900 jets to 41 aircraft. Airbus granted customary pricing concessions in the Hong Kong stock exchange disclosure. Cathay Group Chief Executive Ronald Lam noted that the commitment brings Cathay's total aircraft deliveries from 2026 onward to 120 planes. That figure moves the carrier closer to its ten-year goal of taking delivery of 150 new aircraft.
Total capital commitments across the airline group now exceed 150 billion Hong Kong dollars for the decade running from 2026 through 2035. Management plans to replace aging planes while increasing seat capacity. The three-runway system at Hong Kong International Airport provides the physical runway capacity needed for this long-term expansion. Regional travel demand has rebounded steadily across the Asia-Pacific territory.
The wide-body A330-900 jets will primarily serve regional routes connecting Hong Kong to destinations across mainland China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Australasia. The twin-aisle jets feature modern passenger cabins and improved cargo holds. Meanwhile, HK Express will deploy the three smaller A321neo narrow-body planes on short-haul leisure routes into secondary Chinese cities. Low-cost passenger traffic continues to expand rapidly.
Cathay reported a 71% increase in net profit for the first half of 2026, benefiting from strong passenger yields and cargo demand. Transit bookings through Hong Kong rose steadily during the second and third quarters. The carrier's wider order book also includes Boeing 777-9 long-haul wide-body jets and Airbus A350 freighters. The Airbus A330-900 features latest-generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 powerplants, which deliver double-digit percentage improvements in fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation aircraft.
