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Cathay Pacific Airways
has released traffic figures for October 2004 that show passenger and cargo volumes grew as the
airline further increased capacity.
The airline carried 1,167,690 passengers, up from 1,094,497 passengers carried in September, on the back of record October
passenger capacity measured in terms of Available Seat Kilometres, or ASKs. This October’s ASK total was 10 percent greater
than in October 2003 and 13 percent more than in 2002.
October’s passenger load factor also edged higher to 77.6 percent, up from 75.2 percent the month before. Business traffic
spiked with the advent of trade fairs in Hong Kong, the Mainland and Europe.
Cathay Pacific carried 90,533 tonnes of cargo in October, up from 83,687 tonnes in September as the airline incorporated a third
wet-leased freighter into its fleet to boost capacity over the year-end peak period. Cathay Pacific will take delivery of a new
Boeing 747-400F freighter of its own early next year.
Cathay Pacific General Manager Revenue Management, Sales & Distribution Ian Shiu said: “October was a strong month in
terms of passenger numbers and revenue, with First and Business Class cabins on average almost two-thirds full. Yet margins
were squeezed as jet fuel prices peaked in October.”
Cathay Pacific Director & General Manager Cargo Ron Mathison said: “October and November are peak months for air cargo
and demand out of Hong Kong to Europe and United States is very strong. Cathay Pacific cargo tonnage is expected to reach a
new record high in November but high fuel prices continue to have a negative impact on our bottom line."
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