Where it all began
Cathay Cargo's story started with a single aircraft and a handful of shipments. Even in its first year, cargo played an important role in connecting markets and laying the foundations for the business that would follow.
First flights from our founders set records
In 1946, Cathay Pacific co-founder Roy Farrell flew his DC-3, Betsy, a converted military C-47, from the US to Shanghai carrying clothes, lipstick, combs and toothbrushes. Later that year, the “first international air merchandising company in the world” had a sales office in Hong Kong, where it became incorporated as Cathay Pacific Airways.
That same year, Betsy returned from Australia in her new livery carrying a consignment of day-old chicks, part of the 15 tonnes of cargo carried in the airline’s first year.
A legacy built over decades
As Cathay Cargo grew, so did the scale and variety of the cargo it carried. These stories from different periods of our history highlight some of the notable shipments, operational achievements and milestones that have helped shape our journey.
MRI magnets rank among the coldest and largest shipments from London
MRI scanners use superconductor magnets cooled by liquid helium to keep them at their operating temperature of -269°C. Oxford Magnet Technology, now Siemens Healthineers Magnet Technology, developed active shield magnets that meant that they did not require iron shields, making them relatively small. However, back in 1993, they still weighed around ten tonnes, so each magnet had to occupy a central position over the aircraft wingbox, and the protective packing gave the London team just one inch of clearance through the rear cargo door.
Perth sets an Airbus A330 uplift record
One year after Cathay Pacific received its first Airbus A330, it was deployed to Perth, whose Cargo team was taking part in a network-wide competition to set the record for the biggest uplift in the type. The team managed to load 31 tonnes of general cargo on a flight in February that year.
A legacy built over decades
As Cathay Cargo grew, so did the scale and variety of the cargo it carried. These stories from different periods of our history highlight some of the notable shipments, operational achievements and milestones that have helped shape our journey.
Perth sets an Airbus A330 uplift record
One year after Cathay Pacific received its first Airbus A330, it was deployed to Perth, whose Cargo team was taking part in a network-wide competition to set the record for the biggest uplift in the type. The team managed to load 31 tonnes of general cargo on a flight in February that year.
MRI magnets rank among the coldest and largest shipments from London
MRI scanners use superconductor magnets cooled by liquid helium to keep them at their operating temperature of -269°C. Oxford Magnet Technology, now Siemens Healthineers Magnet Technology, developed active shield magnets that meant that they did not require iron shields, making them relatively small. However, back in 1993, they still weighed around ten tonnes, so each magnet had to occupy a central position over the aircraft wingbox, and the protective packing gave the London team just one inch of clearance through the rear cargo door.
Sailing close to the limit with a vast mast
The Cathay Cargo team faced a logistical challenge in 2008 with the longest load carried on a freighter: a 32-metre boat mast from Rhode Island, via New York, to Hong Kong. It required an aircraft with an opening nose door to be specially scheduled. On arrival in Hong Kong, arrangements were made within the airport restricted area for unloading, which required four large main-deck loaders and team of 30 ramp personnel. Despite its size, the shipment weighed just over 1,500kg.
The very best treatment for Black Caviar
Cathay Cargo carried a record-breaking equine champion back in 2012 when Australian wonder horse Black Caviar returned home from Britain, where she had won the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, her 22nd victory. The thoroughbred mare went on to win all 25 races she entered, a feat unmatched for more than 150 years. During her journey, Black Caviar wore a specially designed compression suit and was welcomed back to Melbourne Airport by a large crowd of media and well-wishers.
Heavyweight support for the oil industry
In 2010, Cathay Cargo’s US team transported its heaviest individual shipment: a 43-tonne piece of oil-rig drilling equipment from Houston to Seoul. The giant drill bit required not just a nose-opening freighter, but also an array of platforms and cranes to safely load the item, and hundreds of straps to secure it. It’s the type of shipment that would be at home with today’s Cathay Cargo Heavy Pro and Cathay Expert solutions.
A Formula One legend takes flight
Although it doesn’t reach the cruising speed of the Boeing 747 freighter that carried it, it would be fair to assume that the V12 Ferrari 412T1, formerly driven by F1 star Jean Alesi, is possibly the fastest shipment carried by Cathay Cargo. The shipment in 2013 organised by a group of F1 Ferrari enthusiasts saw the 330kph car transported from Frankfurt to give New Zealand fans the chance to see, and hear, a real F1 supercar go through its paces.
Heavyweight support for the oil industry
In 2010, Cathay Cargo’s US team transported its heaviest individual shipment: a 43-tonne piece of oil-rig drilling equipment from Houston to Seoul. The giant drill bit required not just a nose-opening freighter, but also an array of platforms and cranes to safely load the item, and hundreds of straps to secure it. It’s the type of shipment that would be at home with today’s Cathay Cargo Heavy Pro and Cathay Expert solutions.
Sailing close to the limit with a vast mast
The Cathay Cargo team faced a logistical challenge in 2008 with the longest load carried on a freighter: a 32-metre boat mast from Rhode Island, via New York, to Hong Kong. It required an aircraft with an opening nose door to be specially scheduled. On arrival in Hong Kong, arrangements were made within the airport restricted area for unloading, which required four large main-deck loaders and team of 30 ramp personnel. Despite its size, the shipment weighed just over 1,500kg.
A Formula One legend takes flight
Although it doesn’t reach the cruising speed of the Boeing 747 freighter that carried it, it would be fair to assume that the V12 Ferrari 412T1, formerly driven by F1 star Jean Alesi, is possibly the fastest shipment carried by Cathay Cargo. The shipment in 2013 organised by a group of F1 Ferrari enthusiasts saw the 330kph car transported from Frankfurt to give New Zealand fans the chance to see, and hear, a real F1 supercar go through its paces.
The very best treatment for Black Caviar
Cathay Cargo carried a record-breaking equine champion back in 2012 when Australian wonder horse Black Caviar returned home from Britain, where she had won the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, her 22nd victory. The thoroughbred mare went on to win all 25 races she entered, a feat unmatched for more than 150 years. During her journey, Black Caviar wore a specially designed compression suit and was welcomed back to Melbourne Airport by a large crowd of media and well-wishers.
Cathay Cargo freighter pops into world’s busiest airspace
Cathay Pacific helped Boeing celebrate its centenary with an appearance at EAA Airventure Oshkosh in Wisconsin in 2016, which was also Cathay’s 70th anniversary year. The team flew in a 747-8F freighter in striking Hong Kong Trader livery to wow the crowds and delight a group of Cargo customers, who toured the aircraft. During Airventure, one of the world’s largest airshows, with 10,000 aircraft that fly in, the regional airport becomes the busiest in the world for aircraft movements.
Chile cherry charter breaks new ground in South America
Cherries are a major air cargo perishable commodity, and Cathay Cargo adds extra frequencies during the season from the US coast, and from Miami and Mexico City, where cherries are ferried up from South America. In 2019, Cathay Cargo flew 4,000 miles with a cherry charter from Santiago in Chile to pick up 110 tonnes of cherries, that reached Asian markets within the day. The flight marked Cathay Cargo's first operation to South America, extending its reach to a new continent.
Chile cherry charter breaks new ground in South America
Cherries are a major air cargo perishable commodity, and Cathay Cargo adds extra frequencies during the season from the US coast, and from Miami and Mexico City, where cherries are ferried up from South America. In 2019, Cathay Cargo flew 4,000 miles with a cherry charter from Santiago in Chile to pick up 110 tonnes of cherries, that reached Asian markets within the day. The flight marked Cathay Cargo's first operation to South America, extending its reach to a new continent.
Cathay Cargo freighter pops into world’s busiest airspace
Cathay Pacific helped Boeing celebrate its centenary with an appearance at EAA Airventure Oshkosh in Wisconsin in 2016, which was also Cathay’s 70th anniversary year. The team flew in a 747-8F freighter in striking Hong Kong Trader livery to wow the crowds and delight a group of Cargo customers, who toured the aircraft. During Airventure, one of the world’s largest airshows, with 10,000 aircraft that fly in, the regional airport becomes the busiest in the world for aircraft movements.
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