Eased restrictions boost Cathay Pacific passenger traffic

Cathay Pacific carried more than 40,000 passengers last month, an increase of 82.2% compared to April 2021.

However, it is still 98.7% below pre-pandemic levels in April 2019.

The month’s revenue passenger kilometres increased 60.7% year-on-year, but were down 98.5% versus April 2019.

Passenger load factor increased by 31.5 percentage points to 55.6%.

In the first four months of 2022, the number of passengers carried increased by 37.8% against a 60.1% decrease in capacity compared to 2021.

“April saw some positive developments with improved demand across our network,” Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Ronald Lam said.

The lifting of the ban on inbound flights from nine countries on 1 April and reduced quarantine helped demand among returning residents, especially from the UK.

In view of this, passenger flight capacity was increased by 25% compared with March.

“We launched additional frequencies, providing more and better connections for our transit passengers,” Lam added.

“The recent adjustments to the Government’s travel restrictions and quarantine requirements will help facilitate the gradual resumption of travel activities.”