80 Years Together
Cargo has been fundamental to the Cathay Group’s journey since day one, 80 years ago, and its importance has only grown over time
80 years with Cathay Cargo
When our founders started operations in Hong Kong in 1946 with Betsy, a converted ex-military DC3, they could only have dreamt of becoming a leading combination cargo carrier with a global passenger network served by more than 200 aircraft and 20 dedicated freighters, all based at the world’s number-one cargo airport.
Explore our incredible journey as we grew alongside our home hub with inspiring stories that shaped our present from our past. Check back for new stories each month.
Our fleet and network
Over the past 80 years, our dedication to cutting-edge aircraft and opening up new routes has shaped Cathay Cargo into a global combination carrier.
Humble beginnings
In 1946, Cathay Pacific’s founders Roy Farrell and Sydney de Kantzow registered their airline in Hong Kong, operating an ex-US Army DC-3, nicknamed Betsy. In its first year, Cathay Pacific Airways carried 15 tonnes of cargo. In 2025, Cathay Cargo carried more than 100,000 times that volume.
Intermodal links with Macao
Cathay Cargo’s intermodal links with the Greater Bay Area date back to 1947, when Cathay Pacific bought two Catalina seaplanes, in part to serve runway-less Macao on lucrative cargo-only bullion flights.
Our fleet and network
Over the past 80 years, our dedication to cutting-edge aircraft and opening up new routes has shaped Cathay Cargo into a global combination carrier.
Intermodal links with Macao
Cathay Cargo’s intermodal links with the Greater Bay Area date back to 1947, when Cathay Pacific bought two Catalina seaplanes, in part to serve runway-less Macao on lucrative cargo-only bullion flights.
Humble beginnings
In 1946, Cathay Pacific’s founders Roy Farrell and Sydney de Kantzow registered their airline in Hong Kong, operating an ex-US Army DC-3, nicknamed Betsy. In its first year, Cathay Pacific Airways carried 15 tonnes of cargo. In 2025, Cathay Cargo carried more than 100,000 times that volume.
Cathay joins the jet age
In the ’60s, Cathay Pacific reached an inflection point: join the jet age or get left in its wake. In 1962, it bought two Convair 880s. By 1968, the fleet was all-jet – putting Cathay Pacific at the forefront of aviation.
Going jumbo
Cathay Pacific was thinking big in 1979 when its first passenger Boeing 747 joined the fleet. The jumbo jet marked a turning point and ended its time as a regional consolidator for other long-haul carriers, by allowing it to serve long-haul cargo routes.
Our first dedicated freighter
Cargo has always played an important role for Cathay Pacific’s business, but its significance was writ large in 1976 – on the side of a converted Boeing 707 freighter, which bore the words “Cathay Pacific Cargo” for the first time.
Discovering the Americas
1983 saw Cathay Pacific’s first flight to Vancouver, bringing to life the “Pacific” vision of the airline’s founders. To this day, the transpacific route continues to be Cathay Cargo’s busiest trunk route.
Our first dedicated freighter
Cargo has always played an important role for Cathay Pacific’s business, but its significance was writ large in 1976 – on the side of a converted Boeing 707 freighter, which bore the words “Cathay Pacific Cargo” for the first time.
Cathay joins the jet age
In the ’60s, Cathay Pacific reached an inflection point: join the jet age or get left in its wake. In 1962, it bought two Convair 880s. By 1968, the fleet was all-jet – putting Cathay Pacific at the forefront of aviation.
Discovering the Americas
1983 saw Cathay Pacific’s first flight to Vancouver, bringing to life the “Pacific” vision of the airline’s founders. To this day, the transpacific route continues to be Cathay Cargo’s busiest trunk route.
Going jumbo
Cathay Pacific was thinking big in 1979 when its first passenger Boeing 747 joined the fleet. The jumbo jet marked a turning point and ended its time as a regional consolidator for other long-haul carriers, by allowing it to serve long-haul cargo routes.
Cathay buys the 777 “mini-freighter”
Most of Cathay Cargo’s tonnage is carried in the belly holds of the passenger fleet, made easier by the capacious Boeing 777-300. Cathay was the launch customer for this “mini freighter” in 1998 – back then the longest aircraft in production.
A giant freighter order
Cathay Cargo took delivery of its first of 14 Boeing 747-8Fs (B-LJE) in 2011. The order brought new scale and efficiency to cargo operations, reinforcing the role of the 747 as the backbone of our cargo network.
A giant freighter order
Cathay Cargo took delivery of its first of 14 Boeing 747-8Fs (B-LJE) in 2011. The order brought new scale and efficiency to cargo operations, reinforcing the role of the 747 as the backbone of our cargo network.
Cathay buys the 777 “mini-freighter”
Most of Cathay Cargo’s tonnage is carried in the belly holds of the passenger fleet, made easier by the capacious Boeing 777-300. Cathay was the launch customer for this “mini freighter” in 1998 – back then the longest aircraft in production.
Flying into the future
Cathay Cargo has placed an order for six next-generation Airbus A350F freighters, with options for 20 more – set to offer significant economies, as well as the largest cargo door of any production aircraft.
Technology and innovation
For the past 80 years, Cathay Cargo has pioneered technology to innovate in the air cargo industry.
80 years of customer booking
Then: Popping to the Peninsula
In the early days of the Hong Kong business, cargo customers would have either gone to HQ at 1 Connaught Road (pictured) – or perhaps popped into the ticket office at the Peninsula Hotel. It might have been hard to track down the airline’s founders by phone: as they were busy flying the company’s DC3s around Asia.
Next: From typewriters to TV screens
The 70s were powered by the pioneering COSAC air cargo computer system, run on a room-sized IBM 370 mainframe computer. A decade later we moved bookings to the CUBIC system, which saw teams swap typewriters and teleprinters for TV screens. Today, the DNA of that system remains in Cathay Cargo’s Cargo Spot operations platform.
Now: The advent of 24/7 booking
2021 saw the launch of Click & Ship, Cathay Cargo’s intuitive booking platform – and now, 80 per cent of bookings are made online.
Available at all hours, Click & Ship allows customers to make shipment bookings – and new in 2026, directly modify them in a few simple steps using the new Manage Booking functionality.
80 years of cargo loading
Then: Old-fashioned loading
In the early days of Cathay Pacific Airways, loading cargo on the airline’s DC3s was very basic: weight and balance calculations depended on the pilots’ knowledge and experience.
Occasionally, in the event of a technical issue or very bad weather, it was necessary for the flight crew to jettison cargo in flight.
Next: Virtual training
Previously cargo loading theory was taught by demonstrating on cardboard model. In 2025 the Cathay Academy and Cathay Cargo combined to create the VR CAVE (Virtual Reality Cave Automatic Virtual Environment), which enables teams to learn how to strap down shipments a virtual environment – without occupying valuable aircraft downtime.
Now: Digital loading
Cathay Cargo introduced HeavyPro in 2025: a digital form that takes approvals for out-of-gauge shipments from nine hours to three, 24/7.
The solution also calculates the strapping positions, which is sent to ramp staff’s Cargo Connect app, launched in 2023, enabling them to secure the shipment – paper-free.
80 years of online innovation
Then: The site that’s older than Google
Cathay Cargo took a giant leap into cyberspace by launching its first website in 1996 – two years before the arrival of Google. Simple navigation buttons allowed users to check routes, schedules and to rudimentary TRAXON tracking. The Cargo Clan newsletter urged “those who have seen the future” to bookmark the page.
Next: Going mobile
In 2015, as smartphones with bigger screens became standard, Cathay Cargo released its proprietary Cargo App. The app put limited but up-to-the-minute information at customers’ fingertips, as well as flight schedules, services and contact info.
Now: The online one-stop shop
As browsing and phone habits have changed, we’ve changed with the times.
cathaycargo.com is fully responsive for screens of all kinds, whether you’re checking a shipment in the office or booking a new on the go with your mobile. With our fully integrated Manage Booking feature, and you have a platform that’s fit for the age.
Coming soon
More milestones and stories from our 80‑year journey will be unveiled over the coming months. Stay tuned.
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