80 Years Together

In 1992, Cathay Pacific Cargo launched its first transpacific freighter service to Los Angeles via Anchorage. This is now part of Cathay Cargo’s busiest lane. Goods from Asia entering the US at LAX included “semiconductors and computer chips, precious gems and metals, clothing, home entertainment equipment, watches, automotive parts, toys and cameras”. Although this preceded e-commerce, these imports align with today; the AI revolution, like the IT revolution then, is also fuelled by chip and semiconductor imports. 

In 1975, Cathay Pacific had growing ambitions, while facing the challenge then of securing hard-to-get slots. That meant that growth had to come from capacity and widebody aircraft offered that both in the cabin and, importantly for the cargo business, the hold. The board baulked at the idea of the “too big” Boeing 747 and opted for the three-engined Lockheed L‑1011 TriStar. The first two entered service that year and it went on to operate 20 of these popular aircraft, the last of them remaining in the fleet until 1996, reducing the need for long-haul lift from competitors.

In 1994, Cathay Pacific Cargo welcomed its first Boeing 747‑400F to its fleet. The 747-400 series offereding airlines lower operating costs, extended range, state of the art avionics  –  and no need for a flight engineer. By working with Cathay and other airlines, Boeing increased cargo space on the 747‑400F by five per cent over the existing 747-200Fs in the Cathay fleet. The aircraft became an industry mainstay, and Cathay Cargo still operates six today..

Cathay Pacific’s first freighter was a converted Boeing 707 passenger aircraft, and now the Cathay Group’s latest, an Airbus A330, is also a conversion. But in between these times, Cathay Pacific also acquired a number of Boeing 747-BCFs (Boeing Converted Freighters). The first, in 1992, was its own 747-200, VR-HIH. The cost of converting was about a fifth of a new machine. VR-HIH’s interior was removed, floor beams replaced to handle for the extra weight, and a large hole cut in the fuselage for a cargo door and a cargo handling system installed. The BCFs were popular with crews; with an empty upper deck, there was enough space to keep fit en route. 

In 1996, the Boeing 747-400F freighter meant that the Cargo team at Cathay Pacific finally had an aircraft with the payload and range to develop operations on the US East Coast. New York and Chicago were already busy offline ports; goods were trucked to Toronto or flown with Air Canada. But the time had come to bring them online. Thirty years on, these remain two the most important routes on the Cathay Cargo US freighter network. 

On a cold January morning in 2005, flight CX050 touched down at Shanghai Pudong airport, marking Cathay Pacific Cargo’s first freighter service to the Chinese Mainland. The route linked the manufacturing and export hubs of the central and southern regions of the Chinese Mainland (via Hong Kong), carrying in electronic components and raw materials, and exporting high-tech goods and garments bound for Asia and the Americas. CX050 still operates today.