Cathay Group Orders 30 A330-900 Wide-body Aircraft

Hong Kong’s Cathay Group has placed a firm order with Airbus for 30 A330-900 wide-body aircraft and the order follows a thorough evaluation by the airline under its mid-size wide-body fleet renewal programme.

The newly-ordered aircraft will enable Cathay to modernise its earlier generation A330-300 fleet and expand its operations on high capacity regional routes. The aircraft will also offer flexibility to serve longer range destinations. As with all A330neo aircraft, the fleet will be powered by the latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines.

Cathay Group’s CEO Ronald Lam said that as Cathay completes the final stretch of its rebuilding journey, they were turning the page to modernisation and growth, both in terms of scope and quality.

“This substantial investment reflects not only our immense confidence in Hong Kong’s leading international aviation hub status, but also represents our commitment to fostering our home city’s ongoing development,” Lam said.

The A330 is an aircraft type that has been serving Cathay Pacific well for nearly 30 years. These new aircraft will principally serve Cathay’s regional destinations in Asia, while also providing the flexibility to serve longer-haul destinations as required.

“The improved fuel efficiency of these A330neos, together with their high standards of comfort, will enable us to further elevate the experience we provide for our customers while also contributing towards our goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,” he added.

Major Approval

Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Aircraft said that this latest order from Cathay, one of the world’s most experienced A330 operators, is a major endorsement of the latest generation A330neo.

It is the natural successor for existing A330 fleets, bringing the highest levels of technical and operational commonality, and significant reductions in fuel consumption and carbon emissions. In addition, the award-winning Airspace cabin provides a whole new flight experience, he explained.

“At Cathay, the A330neo will become the backbone of its regional wide-body operations, with the versatility to operate on longer routes. Together with its A320 Family and A350 fleets, the airline will be able to take full benefit from the unique synergies of the latest generation Airbus product line,” he added.

The A330-900 is capable of flying 7,200 nautical miles (13,330 km) non-stop and features the award-winning Airspace cabin, offering a superior flight experience. As with all Airbus aircraft, the A330neo is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with the aim to increase this to 100% by 2030.

At the end of July, the A330 Family had won 1,805 firm orders from more than 130 customers worldwide, with 1,469 aircraft in service on long, medium and short haul routes around the world.