In 1946 two former wartime pilots, Roy Farrell and Sydney de Kantzow, established Cathay Pacific Airways in Hong Kong. They had already operated cargo flights in the region in the immediate post-war period: and over the following eight decades, Cathay grew into a premium lifestyle brand with both passenger and cargo arms. The airline at its core now serves more than 100 destinations worldwide, growing alongside Hong Kong, which has become a pivotal global hub – and the world’s busiest hub for air cargo.

To celebrate Cathay’s 80th anniversary, people across the world will be able to see aircraft take to the skies in the fondly remembered green-and-white “lettuce-leaf” livery, which defined our fleet of the early 1970s to the mid-1990s. This period coincided with significant growth for the airline, aided by the introduction of its passenger Boeing 747 fleet, which expanded the long-haul network and transformed a regional heavyweight carrier into a global player. An Airbus A350-900, which rolled out of the paint shop in early January 2026 in the anniversary livery, is already operating across the network.

As befits the airline’s cargo origins, the second repainted aircraft that will take to the skies will be a Cathay Cargo Boeing 747-8F freighter, reflecting Cargo’s role in supporting and developing the airline and the city. From just hundreds of tonnes of cargo in the 1940s to more than 1.5 million tonnes carried today, Cathay Cargo’s growth mirrors Hong Kong’s rise and current role as aviation gateway to the Greater Bay Area.

The anniversary livery on our 747 particularly revives memories of Cathay Cargo’s first 747 freighter, VR-HVY, which entered service in 1982 and was painted in the same livery. It joined Cathay Pacific’s six passenger “jumbos”, which were already cementing the airline’s status as a global network carrier.

This too was a bold statement of ambition and intent. It joined Cathay Pacific Cargo’s first and, up to that point, only dedicated freighter, a converted Boeing 707. Since then, the fleet has continued to grow; today Cathay Cargo operates 20 Boeing 747 freighters, of which 14 are 747-8Fs, and one of which now sports the “lettuce leaf” livery.

Both repainted aircraft also sport the “80 Years Together” symbol and tagline to honour the airline’s eight-decade journey, reflecting the shared experiences and milestones that have shaped the brand over the years.

“For 80 years, we’ve stood side by side with Hong Kong, growing together and embodying the can-do spirit that defines our city, our people, and our customers,” says Director Cargo Dominic Perret. “Every milestone, every challenge and success has been a shared journey – whether collaborating, celebrating or overcoming obstacles, togetherness has always been at the heart of what we do, and we’re delighted to mark these accomplishments with this special livery freighter that will carry the cargo that matters to the world.”

These special liveried aircraft will kick off a year of celebrations commemorating this important legacy. Stay tuned throughout the year for more stories from Cathay Cargo celebrating eight decades of flight – and freight.