Cathay welcomes the Government’s budget speech initiatives to support and strengthen Hong Kong’s aviation industry

Cathay welcomes the Hong Kong SAR Government’s continued focus on strengthening the Hong Kong international aviation hub through initiatives to support the aviation industry, as outlined in the Budget Speech delivered today (28 February) by Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR Government, Paul Chan Mo-po.

Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam said: “As a committed enabler of Hong Kong’s future through our ability to connect Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland with the world, Cathay remains focused on continuing to sustainably grow our business as Hong Kong’s home carrier.

“As mentioned by the Financial Secretary, Hong Kong has a thriving international aviation hub. Cathay together with about 120 airlines provides flight services to some 180 destinations globally from Hong Kong International Airport, and we enthusiastically welcome initiatives that further strengthen Hong Kong’s leading hub status.”

The Three-Runway System at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) will bring new and exciting opportunities for the aviation industry and Cathay looks forward to its scheduled commissioning at the end of 2024.

Lam said: “We fully support the Government’s proactive plans to leverage the opportunities presented by the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Three-Runway System to foster increased intermodal connectivity, and continue to develop flight services along existing major routes as well as routes connecting Hong Kong with Belt and Road Initiative countries and regions.”

As a proud contributor to Hong Kong’s position as the world’s leading air cargo hub, Cathay also welcomes the continued growth of air cargo services at HKIA, especially through increased collaboration with other cities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). The HKIA Logistics Park in Dongguan has been successful since its inception, greatly facilitating the development of intermodal cargo transhipments within the GBA.

Lam said: “We view the entire GBA as our home market. Providing high-quality intermodal transportation services for our travel and cargo customers is a core component of our growth strategy. The facilitation of such services will enable us to further contribute to the development of the Hong Kong international aviation hub as well as the aviation industry in the GBA as a whole.”

With Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) going to be a key lever for the decarbonisation of the aviation industry, Cathay is very encouraged by the Government’s commitment to exploring ways to facilitate increased adoption of SAF in Hong Kong through supportive procedures, policy measures and infrastructure development.

Lam said: “The development and use of SAF will be hugely important for Hong Kong to retain and enhance its leading international aviation hub status in the long term. This requires collaboration among all parties, and we look forward to working together with the Government, Airport Authority Hong Kong, and other stakeholders to support the transition to a low-carbon economy.”

Cathay also looks forward to the continuation of schemes to attract and develop talent within Hong Kong’s aviation industry, as it continues to turn on all the taps to recruit and train people to support its rebuild journey.

Furthermore, Cathay is delighted to see the Government’s commitment to maximising the contribution of the tourism industry to Hong Kong’s economy, in welcoming tourists from around the world to our home city and reinforcing Hong Kong’s status as one of the world’s top visitor destinations.