Cathay Pacific recently marked a special occasion as they celebrated the graduation of their newest group of cadet pilots who successfully completed the Cadet Pilot Training Program. This cohort of 34 cadet pilots stands out as the first to undergo in-house ground theory training at the prestigious Cathay Academy, a remarkable milestone for the airline. The cadets also received flight training at the esteemed AeroGuard Flight Training Center in Arizona along with Multi Crew Cooperation (MCC) training in state-of-the-art flight simulators at Cathay Academy before completing the rigorous program.

Since their graduation on May 16, 2025, these cadet pilots have taken on roles as second officers at Cathay Pacific, embarking on their flying duties with enthusiasm and dedication. The airline proudly shared that currently, over 500 cadet pilots are undergoing training as part of the Cathay Pacific Cadet Pilot Training Program, demonstrating their commitment to nurturing aviation talent.

Regarding the significance of the occasion, Alex McGowan, Cathay's Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer, expressed, "Developing aviation talent has always been a priority for Cathay. Our Cadet Pilot Training Program provides us with world-class aviators, many of whom have gone on to hold senior training positions with us, as well as key flying leadership roles." McGowan, who was present at the graduation ceremony, added, "Today's graduation holds special significance as it marks our first group of cadet pilots to undergo training at Cathay Academy, ensuring top-tier training quality and enriching their overall experience. This step allows us to further cultivate future aviation talent locally."

Cathay Pacific's approach to cadet pilot training includes multi-path integrated courses designed in collaboration with institutions like Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the airline's own Cathay Academy. The training structure involves theoretical ground training, flight training at select centers like AeroGuard Flight Training Center and Flight Training Adelaide, and multi-crew simulator training at Cathay's headquarters in Hong Kong, all aimed at producing well-rounded and skilled pilots.

The airline's Cadet Pilot Training Program, which was established in 1988, has a distinguished track record with over 1,000 cadet pilots trained since 2022. Among the program's graduates are 185 captains, including over 40 training captains, and seven management pilots who have advanced within the organization. This ongoing commitment to developing talent underscores Cathay Pacific's dedication to excellence in aviation training.