Passenger Traffic Continues to Surge
Cathay Pacific Airways announced a significant rise in passenger traffic for July 2024, signaling a continued recovery in the aviation sector. The airline carried 1.89 million passengers in the month, marking a 75.5% increase compared to July 2023. This growth also pushed the passenger load factor up to 85.6%, a 10.2 percentage point improvement from the previous year.
Despite this positive momentum, Cathay Pacific is still operating at 61.5% of its pre-pandemic capacity, indicating that while recovery is underway, the airline has not yet returned to its full operational strength.
Cargo Operations Face Challenges
In contrast to the booming passenger numbers, Cathay Pacific’s cargo operations experienced a downturn. The airline reported carrying 102,758 tonnes of cargo in July 2024, an 8.1% decrease year-on-year. This decline is largely attributed to the global economic slowdown, which has reduced demand for airfreight services. The cargo load factor also dropped by 2.8 percentage points to 64.9%, reflecting softer market conditions.
Cathay Pacific’s Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, Lavinia Lau, addressed these mixed results, noting, “While we are pleased with the continued improvement in passenger traffic, the cargo sector is facing headwinds due to broader economic challenges.”
Balancing Growth and Uncertainty
Looking ahead, Cathay Pacific remains cautiously optimistic. The airline is gradually increasing its flight operations with the aim of reaching pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024. The ongoing recovery in passenger travel is a positive sign, but the airline must also navigate the challenges in its cargo division, which could impact its overall recovery trajectory.
As Cathay Pacific moves forward, the airline’s ability to balance the resurgence in passenger demand with the complexities of the cargo market will be crucial to its sustained growth in a recovering global aviation industry.
