Cathay Pacific to Acquire 30 Airbus A330-900 Aircraft, with Option for 30 More – Reuters

Cathay Pacific has announced plans to acquire 30 Airbus A330-900 wide-body aircraft, with the option to purchase an additional 30, according to a statement made by the Hong Kong-based airline on Wednesday.

The airline anticipates that deliveries for these new aircraft will commence in 2028 and conclude by the end of 2031. This procurement is part of a broader strategy wherein Cathay plans to invest HK$100 billion (approximately $12.83 billion) over the next seven years into its fleet, cabin products, lounges, and various digital and sustainability initiatives.

The new A330-900 aircraft are intended to replace some of Cathay’s existing fleet and will primarily operate on regional routes within Asia, although they may also be deployed on longer-haul flights in the future. While the exact purchase price was not disclosed, the base price of 30 A330s is estimated to be around $11 billion, with substantial concessions applied.

Rolls-Royce, which provides the sole engine for the A330neo, confirmed that Cathay has ordered 60 of its Trent 7000 engines to power the new jets. Currently, Cathay operates a mixed fleet consisting of Boeing and Airbus aircraft and has around 100 planes on order, including freighter, narrow-body, and wide-body types, with an option to acquire an additional 80 aircraft, as stated by CEO Ronald Lam.

The airline is also anticipating the full operation of a new third runway at Hong Kong International Airport by the end of this year, which will enhance airport capacity. Cathay first hinted at the potential for acquiring mid-sized wide-body aircraft in late 2022.

Airbus has indicated that its A330-900 jets, the largest variant of the new-generation A330neo family, can accommodate up to 460 passengers while achieving a 25% reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions compared to earlier models.