Cathay Pacific recently shared its latest traffic figures for October 2024, and the numbers are looking impressive! According to Pilotcenter.net News, the airline achieved a significant milestone by operating over 10,000 passenger and cargo flight sectors in a single month for the first time this year.

In October 2024, Cathay Pacific carried a total of 2,014,105 passengers, marking a substantial 19.6% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) also saw a noteworthy uptick of 19.1% year-on-year, reflecting the airline's strong performance in the market.

Despite a slight decrease in the network load factor to 83.1%, primarily due to increased available seat kilometers (ASKs), the overall passenger growth has been impressive. Over the first ten months of 2024, Cathay Pacific witnessed a remarkable 27.4% surge in the number of passengers carried, totaling 18,567,818 individuals.

Lavinia Lau, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer at Cathay Pacific, highlighted the success of October, attributing it to robust demand from both leisure and business travelers. The airline experienced substantial leisure traffic from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland to various destinations in Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, and Europe during the National Day 'Golden Week' holiday.

On the business front, the airline's premium cabins saw strong demand, with October recording the highest number of passengers in these cabins since the pandemic began. Lau mentioned the positive reception of the non-stop passenger service between Hong Kong and Riyadh and noted the high demand from different regions for this route.

Switching gears to the freight sector, Cathay Pacific moved 142,323 tonnes of cargo in October 2024, a 14.3% increase from the previous year. The cargo operations also saw growth in revenue tonne kilometers (RFTKs), indicating a healthy performance in this segment as well.

Looking ahead, Lau expressed optimism for a busy Christmas travel peak, with Japan expected to be a top destination for outbound travel. The airline is gearing up for the launch of new services, including flights between Hong Kong and Cairns and the resumption of passenger services to and from Hyderabad, India.

As the year progresses, Cathay Pacific anticipates continued growth in cargo demand driven by various factors like e-commerce, high-tech, and electronic goods. The airline is well-positioned to capitalize on these trends and expand its network presence in key regions.