Cathay Pacific deploys passenger widebodies for cargo ops

Cathay Pacific (CX, Hong Kong Int’l) has confirmed it is using A330-300s, operated by its subsidiary Cathay Dragon (KA, Hong Kong Int’l), to run cargo routes between Hong Kong Int’l and Chinese gateways in light of a recent surge in demand for freight to and from the mainland. According to Cargo Facts, the airline is using Cathay Dragon’s A330-300s on a daily route to Beijing Capital and on 3x weekly services to each of Shanghai Pudong and Xiamen. No passengers are transported on these services as the airline only utilises bellyhold capacity to carry freight. Cathay Dragon maintains daily passenger services to Beijing and Shanghai and a 3x weekly service to Xiamen. All three are operated with A330-300s. Cathay Pacific itself does not operate any scheduled passenger services into mainland China at present. However, it retains scheduled cargo flights to five cities in the country (including Shanghai and Xiamen but not Beijing) using B747-8(F)s and B747-400(F)s. Cathay’s cargo subsidiary Air Hong Kong continues to operate to Beijing and Shanghai.