Cathay Pacific expects to take over all 46 routes operated by now-defunct subsidiary, source says
- Cathay Dragon had the rights before it folded as part of a wider company restructuring in 2020
- While government confirms a decision on the routes has been made, details are not being released
The Transport and Housing Bureau said on Monday that while a decision on the routes had been made, it would not make public details of the negotiations, citing the confidential information involved.
Hong Kong’s flagship carrier and its sister airline HK Express were pursuing the rights once held by Cathay Dragon. The bureau also invited rival Hong Kong Airlines and its subsidiaries to bid, along with any other locally registered airlines.
At the time, Cathay Pacific chairman Patrick Healy said the airline expected that “most of the destinations” served by the subsidiary would be shared between Cathay Pacific and HK Express.
A bureau spokeswoman said the primary principle when allocating the traffic rights was to strengthen “the competitiveness of the aviation industry in Hong Kong”.
But an industry source said: “Cathay is confident it will secure all of the rights.”
