Cathay Pacific today released its traffic figures for May 2023, which show the airline continues to make good progress as it rebuilds flight connectivity at the Hong Kong international aviation hub.
The airline carried 109,834 tonnes of cargo last month, an increase of 18.8% compared with May 2022, when our cargo capacity was significantly reduced due to stricter aircrew quarantine measures.
The month’s cargo revenue tonne kilometres (RFTKs) increased 73.4% year on year.
The cargo load factor decreased by 14.2 percentage points to 61.5%, while capacity, measured in available cargo tonne kilometres (AFTKs), increased by 113.6% year on year.
In the first five months of 2023, the tonnage increased by 28.2% against a 154.6% increase in capacity and a 107.2% increase in RFTKs, as compared with the same period for 2022.
Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “Turning to our cargo business, market volume remained largely flat in May. High-tech demand and new consumer product shipments continued to underperform due to elevated inventory levels.
“However, the e-commerce market remained relatively active and, in the special solution segment, aircraft engine volumes improved as passenger services resumed.
“The peak summer season looks promising as we expect to get a boost from students returning to Hong Kong after the school term ends.
“On rebuilding our network, we will bring back the seasonal Christchurch service from 16 December 2023 through to 29 February 2024 with three return flights per week, following the earlier announcement of service resumption to Johannesburg and Chicago from August and October 2023, respectively.
“In terms of cargo, the summer months are traditionally slower and any significant pick-up in demand is not expected until the end of the third quarter. We also anticipate more intense competition as overall cargo demand lags behind supply.
“As we rebuild our capacity through the expansion of the widebody passenger network, we will continue to source new demand and optimise our freighter schedules accordingly. Toronto and Miami will receive additional freighter capacity as a result.”
CATHAY PACIFIC TRAFFIC |
MAY2023 |
% ChangeVS MAY 2022 |
CumulativeMAY 2023 |
% ChangeYTD |
| RPK (000) | ||||
| – Chinese Mainland | 265,947 | 1,018.0% | 1,130,586 | 982.5% |
| – North East Asia | 757,504 | 20,027.0% | 3,313,565 | 21,684.7% |
| – South East Asia | 767,816 | 4,796.7% | 3,482,211 | 6,130.6% |
| – South Asia, Middle East & Africa | 283,087 | 5,214.6% | 1,174,076 | 21,069.8% |
| – South West Pacific | 741,213 | 1,973.1% | 3,526,287 | 3,019.6% |
| – North America | 1,585,741 | 1,053.2% | 6,912,194 | 2,264.9% |
| – Europe | 1,412,752 | 1,210.9% | 6,596,555 | 2,647.2% |
| RPK Total (000) | 5,814,059 | 1,664.0% | 26,135,475 | 3,062.1% |
| Passengers carried | 1,417,906 | 2,345.4% | 6,267,779 | 3,281.0% |
| Cargo revenue tonne km (000) | 654,025 | 73.4% | 3,228,519 | 107.2% |
| Cargo carried (000kg) | 109,834 | 18.8% | 540,055 | 28.2% |
| Number of flights | 3,347 | 180.9% | 14,707 | 146.3% |
CATHAY PACIFIC CAPACITY |
MAY2023 |
% ChangeVS MAY 2022 |
CumulativeMAY 2023 |
% ChangeYTD |
| ASK (000) | ||||
| – Chinese Mainland | 367,522 | 412.7% | 1,590,852 | 292.8% |
| – North East Asia | 980,822 | 5,565.6% | 4,146,414 | 5,781.6% |
| – South East Asia | 972,942 | 3,158.0% | 4,231,981 | 3,227.9% |
| – South Asia, Middle East & Africa | 353,213 | 1,894.6% | 1,423,532 | 6,832.6% |
| – South West Pacific | 906,964 | 1,529.4% | 4,217,848 | 2,210.5% |
| – North America | 1,686,574 | 746.1% | 7,269,585 | 1,530.4% |
| – Europe | 1,560,107 | 915.5% | 7,136,057 | 1,997.6% |
| ASK Total (000) | 6,828,143 | 1,152.4% | 30,016,269 | 1,785.7% |
| Passenger load factor | 85.1% | 24.7%pt | 87.1% | 35.1%pt |
| Available cargo tonne km (000) | 1,063,947 | 113.6% | 5,029,556 | 154.6% |
| Cargo load factor | 61.5% | -14.2%pt | 64.2% | -14.7%pt |
| ATK (000) | 1,714,853 | 211.5% | 7,893,089 | 270.9% |
