- Massive Cargo Growth: Cathay Cargo reported a 10% year-on-year increase in tonnage for the first nine months of 2025, carrying over 130,000 tonnes in September alone.
- Passenger Numbers Soar: The Cathay Group flew over 2.7 million passengers in September, a significant 20% increase compared to the same month last year.
- Peak Season Demand: The growth is fueled by the traditional air cargo peak season, driven by high-tech product launches and strong e-commerce volumes across Asia.
- Strategic Expansion: Cathay is expanding its network with new flights to the Chinese Mainland and a seasonal freighter service to Madrid to capture rising demand.
Air Logistics Recovery Gains Momentum
The Cathay Group has unveiled strong performance figures for September 2025, signaling a robust and accelerating recovery in the global air logistics and travel sectors. The airline’s data confirms what many in the industry have been hoping for: a significant uptick in both cargo and passenger traffic as the market stabilizes.
Cargo Operations Hit Peak Season
Cathay Cargo has entered the traditional peak freight season with impressive momentum. The airline carried over 130,000 tonnes of cargo in September, marking a 1% increase over the same period last year. The bigger picture is even more compelling, with total tonnage for the first nine months of 2025 surging by 10% year-on-year.
In a statement, Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau highlighted the underlying strength of the market. “While tonnage in September declined against the previous month due to the impact of typhoons, it continued to rise year-on-year as a result of the additional capacity we provided,” Lau explained. She noted that specialized solutions like Cathay Expert and Dangerous Goods saw double-digit growth, largely driven by machinery movements in Northeast Asia and exports of new high-tech products from the Chinese Mainland and Southeast Asia.
To meet this rising demand, Cathay has introduced a new seasonal freighter service to Madrid, enhancing capacity for the crucial European market during these peak months.
Passenger Traffic Rebounds Strongly
The recovery isn’t limited to cargo. Cathay Pacific and its subsidiary HK Express carried a combined total of over 2.7 million passengers in September, a remarkable 20% increase from September 2024. This growth is particularly noteworthy as it occurred during what is typically a quieter period following the summer travel peak.
The Group is also aggressively expanding its reach. Cathay announced new non-stop flights between Hong Kong and Changsha and is boosting frequencies on key routes to Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai. With these additions, the Group will operate over 330 return flights per week between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.
A Bellwether for Global Trade
Cathay’s strong performance reflects a broader stabilization in global air cargo markets. With manufacturing output and e-commerce volumes underpinning freight demand, Hong Kong’s role as a major logistics hub is more critical than ever. The airline’s focused investment in specialist cargo services positions it perfectly to capitalize on the sustained growth in high-tech, machinery, and other time-sensitive exports from Asia.
Overall, the first nine months of 2025 have seen the Cathay Group report a 27% increase in passengers and a 10% rise in cargo tonnage, providing undeniable proof of Asia’s powerful aviation and logistics recovery.
Image Referance: https://logisticsbusiness.com/transport-distribution/air-cargo/air-cargo-growth-accelerates-amid-logistics-surge/