03 juillet 1998
Video DSp> Flying with Cathay Pacific to Kai Tak
Play under > Video DSp about my flight CX 260 to HK Kai Tak
Flying with Cathay Pacific to Kai Tak
envoyé par DreamSpotter
02 juin 1998
Info => Cathay Pacific ( CX / CPA ) HK - China
- Cathay Pacific Airways Limited is the largest airline and flag carrier of Hong Kong. Based at Hong Kong International Airport, the airline's operations include scheduled passenger and cargo services to 120 destinations worldwide.
Cathay Pacific is one of only six airlines worldwide to carry a five-star rating from Skytrax. Cathay was named "Airline of the Year" in 2003 and 2005 by Skytrax and in 2006 by Air Transport World and OAG. Cathay Pacific is accredited by the IATA with the IOSA (IATA Operations Safety Audit) for safety practices. It is also a member of the Oneworld alliance.
| Cathay Pacific Airways | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| IATA CX |
ICAO CPA |
Callsign CATHAY |
| Founded | 1946 | |
| Hubs | Hong Kong International Airport | |
| Focus cities |
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport | |
| Frequent flyer program | Asia Miles The Marco Polo Club | |
| Member lounge | The Wing, The Pier (in Hong Kong International Airport, First/Business Class) | |
| Alliance | Oneworld | |
| Subsidiaries | Dragonair Air Hong Kong | |
| Fleet size | 116 (+48 orders) | |
| Destinations | 111 (Including code-share) | |
| Parent company | Swire Pacific Limited | |
| Company slogan | Now you're really flying | |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong | |
| Key people | ||
| Website: http://www.cathaypacific.com | ||
History / Early years
Cathay Pacific Airways was founded in Hong Kong on 24 September 1946 by American Roy Farrell and Australian Sydney de Kantzow. Both men were ex-air force pilots who had flown The Hump, a route over the Himalayan Mountains. Each man put up HK$1 to register the airline. Although initially based in Shanghai, the two men moved to Hong Kong to found Cathay Pacific Airways. They named it "Cathay" because it was the Medieval name given to China, derived from "Khitan", and "Pacific" because Farrell speculated that they would one day fly across the Pacific. The Chinese name for the company comes from a Chinese idiom meaning "Grand and Peaceful State".
According to legend, the airline was conceived by Farrell and some foreign correspondents at the bar of the Manila Hotel. On Cathay Pacific's maiden voyage, Roy Farrell and Sydney de Kantzow flew from Hong Kong to Manila, and later on to Shanghai. They had a single Douglas DC-3, nicknamed Betsy. The airline initially flew routes between Hong Kong, Sydney, Manila, Singapore, Shanghai, and Canton, while scheduled service was limited to Bangkok, Manila, and Singapore only.
In 1948 Butterfield & Swire bought 45% of Cathay Pacific, with Australian National Airways taking 35% and Farrell and de Kantzow taking 10% each. The new company began operations on 1 July 1948 and was registered as Cathay Pacific Airways (1948) Ltd on 18 October 1948. Swire later acquired 52% of Cathay Pacific and today the airline is still 40% owned by the Swire Group through Swire PacificExpansion in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s
The airline prospered into the 1960s, buying rival Hong Kong Airways in 1959, carrying its one millionth passenger in 1964, recording double digit growth from 1962 to 1967, acquiring its first jet engined aircraft (Convair 880), and beginning international routes to airports in Japan. In the 1970s, Cathay Pacific installed a computerised reservation system and flight simulators. In 1979, Cathay Pacific acquired its first Boeing 747 and applied for traffic rights to begin flying to London. Expansion continued into the 1980s, when an industry-wide boom encouraged route growth to many European and North American centres. In 1986, Cathay Pacific went public
In January 1990, Cathay Pacific and its parent company, Swire Pacific, acquired a significant shareholding in Dragonair, and a 60% stake in cargo airline Air Hong Kong. During the early 1990s, Cathay Pacific launched a programme to upgrade passenger service. Also, the green and white striped livery was replaced with the current "brushstroke" livery. Cathay Pacific began a US$9 billion fleet replacement program during the mid-1990s that resulted with Cathay Pacific having one of the youngest airline fleets in the world. In 1996, CITIC bought a 25% stake in Cathay Pacific while the Swire Group holding was reduced to 44% as two other Chinese companies, CNAC and CTS also bought substantial holdings.
In 1997, administration of Hong Kong was transferred from the UK to the People's Republic of China. Most of Cathay Pacific's aircraft were registered in Hong Kong and bore a registration beginning with "VR". Under the terms of an agreement within the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group (JLG), registration was changed by December, 1997 to the prefix "B", which is used by the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan). Cathay Pacific aircraft formerly carried a painted Union Jack on the tail but these were removed several years before the 1997 takeover.
In September 1998, Cathay Pacific became a founding member of the Oneworld alliance. In 1999, they completed their new headquarters, named Cathay City, which is located at Hong Kong International Airport. Cathay Pacific was hurt by the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s, but recorded a record HK$5 billion profit in 2000.
Cathay City, the headquarters
Acquisition of Dragonair
On 9 June 2006, Cathay Pacific underwent a shareholding realignment under which Dragonair became wholly owned by Cathay Pacific but continued to operate under its own brand. Air China, and its subsidiary, CNAC Limited, acquired a 17.5% stake in Cathay Pacific, and Cathay Pacific doubled its shareholding in Air China to 20%. CITIC reduced its shareholding to 17.5%, and Swire reduced its shareholding to 40%.
Awards
- Cathay Pacific is one of 6 airlines worldwide which has been rated as a 5 star airline by Skytrax
- Cathay Pacific was named World's Best Overall Airline in 2003 and 2005 by a Skytrax survey
- Cathay Pacific is also accredited by the IATA with the IOSA (IATA Operations Safety Audit) for its safety practices
- The airline was also awarded with Best First Class, Best First Class Lounge (Hong Kong), and Best Business Class Lounge (Hong Kong) by Skytrax.
- The airline was named Airline of the Year 2006 by Air Transport World magazine and by OAG.
- Cathay Pacific have been awarded Most Punctual Airline between London and Hong Kong for the third consecutive year in 2007
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A330-300 | 31 (9 orders) |
New 2-class Interior 264 (41/223) 2-class 311 (44/267) 3-class 251 (8/32/211) |
Fitted with either Regional Business Class or First, Long Haul Business Class Current A330s with First Class will be reconfigured as 2-class with new cabin interiors. Largest operator of the A330-300. |
| Airbus A340-300 | 15 | New 2-class Interior not yet known 2-class |
Fitted with either Long Haul Business Class or First, Long Haul Business Class All A340s will be reconfigured as 2-class with new cabin interiors |
| Airbus A340-600 | 2 | 286 (8/60/218) | Leases expiring. To Hainan Airlines Exit from service: 2008 |
| Boeing 747-400 | 23 | New Interior 379 (9/46/324) Premium 345 (12/65/268) Standard 383 (12/47/324) |
Fitted with First and Long Haul Business Class All B747s will be reconfigured as 3-class with new cabin interiors |
| Boeing 777-200 | 5 | 336 (45/291) | Fitted with Regional Business Class |
| Boeing 777-300 | 12 | 385 (59/326) | Fitted with Regional Business Class |
| Boeing 777-300ER | 8 (22 orders) |
301 (6/57/238) | Factory-installed new cabin interior |
| Aircraft | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Boeing 747-200F | 6 | 1 B747-200F (B-HVY) is retired from Cathay Pacific's freighter fleet |
| Boeing 747-400F | 6 | |
| Boeing 747-400BCF | 7 (1 orders) |
|
| Boeing 747-400ERF | 1 (5 orders) |
|
| Boeing 747-8F | (10 orders) |
Retired
Cathay Pacific "Betsy" aircraft
Since its conception in 1946, Cathay Pacific had operated many types of aircraft. The first two Cathay Pacific aircraft were two World War II surplus Douglas DC-3s named Betsy and Niki. Betsy (VR-HDB), which is the first aircraft for Cathay Pacific, is now a permanent exhibit in the Hong Kong Science Museum. Niki (VR-HDA) was lost, but a similar DC-3 has been purchased by Cathay Pacific. It was renovated and repainted by CX Engineering and the Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company and it now wears the original Cathay Pacific color scheme. This aircraft received "Niki"s' old VR-HDA registration and is now on public view in the car park outside the Flight Training Centre of Cathay City.
Other aircraft that have been in service with Cathay Pacific are:
- Douglas DC-3
- Avro Anson
- Consolidated PBY Catalina
- Douglas DC-4
- Douglas DC-6
- Lockheed L-188 Electra
- Bristol Britannia (Leased from BOAC for a few months whilst the Electras were taken out of service due to defects)
- Convair 880
- Boeing 707-320
- Boeing 747-200B (remained in service with freighter only)
- Boeing 747-300
- Airbus A340-200 (leased from Philippine Airlines for 3 years before delivery of A340-300)
- Lockheed L-1011-100 TriStar (one of the Lockheed-VR-HOI was purchased from Eastern Air Lines (N318EA) when they went bankrupt)
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Cathay Pacific was the largest operator of the Lockheed TriStar outside the United States.
Service & Class :
First Class Cabins
Cathay Pacific First Class cabin on the Boeing 747-400.
- The New First Class can be converted into a fully lie-flat bed measuring 36” x 81” (90cm x 205cm). The new seats include a massage function, a personal closet, an Ottoman for stowage or guest seating, and an adjustable 17", 16:9 PTV.
- First Class seats can be converted into fully lie-flat beds measuring 22" x 79" (56cm x 201cm) and feature a 10.4" (26cm) PTV, privacy screens and center seat dividers for interior rows, and inseat power and data ports. This configuration is being replaced by the New First Class cabins.
Business Class Cabins
Cathay Pacific flights feature three business class configurations:
- The New Business Class seats are arranged in a herring-bone configuration and follow a suite-like arrangement. The seats have been well received for their fully lie-flat capabilities, increased privacy, and larger AVOD PTV. Additionally, the seats feature lumbar support, massage, a 110 V AC power socket, and a personal phone. However, some passengers have commented that the seats feel narrow and claustrophobic, that the angled seat pattern is uncomfortable, that the construction quality appears sub-standard, and that passengers traveling together will be separated by the pod layout.
- Business Class Seats on aircraft configured for long-haul flights include a 20.5" (52cm) wide seat that converts into an angled lie-flat bed at a 60" pitch, measuring over 75" (190.5cm) long. Features of these seats include adjustable headrest and lumbar support, water bottle holders and 10.4" (26cm) PTVs with AVOD located in the seatback. This configuration is being phased out as it is replaced by the New Business Class interiors.
- The Regional Business Class is provided on Cathay Pacific's Boeing 777s (excluding the 777-300ER) and select Airbus A330-300s. Regional Business Class seats have 20" width and recline to 45" of pitch and feature electrical recline and leg rest. A 9" PTV is located in the armrest provides 20 video and 22 audio channels but does not offer AVOD.
Economy Class Cabins
- The New Economy Class seats, offered on aircraft outfitted with the refurbished long-haul interiors, were designed by B/E Aerospace. New features of these seats include a fixed back design that allows passengers to recline without intruding on those seated behind, a 9" PTV providing AVOD, a larger tray table, a coat hook and a literature pocket that has been relocated to below the seat cushion to create more leg room. These seats are 17" in width and have 32" of pitch.
- Economy Class seats each feature personal 6" PTVs with a choice of 25 channels. These seats are 17" in width and have 32" of pitch. These seats are being replaced with the New Economy Class seats on aircraft receiving the Cathay Pacific's new long-haul interior configuration.
Incidents and accidents
- On 16 June 1948, Miss Macao, a flight from Macao to Hong Kong, was hijacked by four men who killed the pilot after takeoff. The plane crashed in the Pearl River Delta near Zhuhai. Twenty-six people died, leaving only one survivor (the leader of the hijackers). This was the first hijacking of a commercial liner in the world. The plane was operated by a Cathay Pacific subsidiary.
- On 24 February 1949 - in Braemar Reservoir, Hong Kong - Douglas DC-3
- On 23 July 1954, DC-4, NO:VR-HEU, from Bangkok to Hong Kong was shot down by the People's Liberation Army Air Force in the South China Sea near Hainan Island. Ten people died, leaving eight survivors. After the incident, Cathay Pacific received an apology and compensation from the People's Liberation Army Air Force.
- On 05 November 1967 in Hong Kong, China - Convair CV-880-22M-3
- On 15 June 1972, on Flight 700Z from Bangkok to Hong Kong, a bomb exploded in a suitcase placed under a seat in the cabin of the Convair 880 while the aircraft was flying at 29,000 feet over Pleiku, Vietnam. The aircraft disintegrated and crashed, killing all 81 people on board.
- On 30 January 2008, the chief Boeing 777 pilot for Cathay Pacific, Captain Ian Wilkinson, performed a low-level flypast, reportedly with permission of the control tower, but without permission from the airline, at the Boeing Everett Factory when taking delivery of a new Boeing 777-300ER. Captain Wilkinson was dismissed for his actions. No injuries or further incident was caused.