Cathay Pacific, the Hong Kong-based airline, has recently revealed its latest traffic statistics for November 2024. The data, disclosed on December 20, 2024, highlights the airline's consistent growth trend as the year draws to a close, both in its passenger and cargo divisions.

During November 2024, Cathay Pacific served a total of 2,010,506 passengers, marking a significant 23.1% increase compared to November 2023. This growth is further emphasized by a 25.8% surge in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) year-on-year. The airline's network passenger load factor rose by 3 percentage points to 83.5%, while available seat kilometers (ASKs) saw a 21.3% uptick compared to the same period in 2023. Over the initial 11 months of 2024, passenger numbers soared by 27% to reach a total of 20,578,324, alongside a 31.5% rise in ASKs and a 26.7% increase in RPKs over the corresponding period in 2023. Lavinia Lau, Cathay's Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, expressed satisfaction with the performance, stating, "November was another strong month for our travel business," noting the continual high passenger demand across the network.

Travel demands were notably robust in routes to Japan and South Korea, driven by traffic originating from Hong Kong, Australia, and Southeast Asia. Lau mentioned, "Our premium cabins continued to see good demand, supported by return business traffic, particularly following the Canton Fair in Guangzhou." Lau further highlighted the increased transit traffic via Hong Kong on the Riyadh service, connecting to various regional ports.

In the cargo sector, Cathay Pacific transported 142,601 tonnes in November 2024, reflecting a 15% increase from November 2023. The cargo revenue tonne kilometers (RFTKs) experienced an 11.9% year-on-year rise. Looking ahead to 2025, the airline foresees a positive trajectory as it anticipates a return to pre-pandemic traffic levels. The company aims to further expand and enhance its services to meet evolving market demands.

The positive outlook for 2025 includes plans to operate passenger services to 100 destinations worldwide and the addition of new routes. Cathay Pacific now looks forward to new destinations such as Hyderabad, Dallas, Munich, and Brussels. On the other hand, HK Express has announced plans to operate in Sendai, with more locations in the pipeline.

Overall, Cathay Pacific remains optimistic about its future, fueled by a strong second-half financial forecast, thanks to heightened cargo demand and favorable fuel prices. As the industry gradually restores its flight capacity to align with market needs, Cathay Pacific anticipates continued growth and success in the coming years.