Business Means Business: Cathay Pacific

With the return of flights, and the additional of new ones, there is little reason to doubt that doing a stopover in Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific to any destination in the world from ASEAN is the best decision one might make in their lifetime. Plus, its concrete Business and Premium Economy Class offerings, and worldrenowned lounges in HKIA makes travelling on the Hong Kong-based airline with a stopover an experience, rather than a chore.

- Manfred Lu

Air travel has not felt the same, at least not since the pandemic. Surely, one has heard at least a friend say, “It’s just not the same as it used to be,” in a conversation about their recent air travels. But what is the difference, and is there any at all? When airlines were forced to ground their entire fleet and minimise their operations below what was requisite, some airlines chose to reduce their services, dispose of amenities, and close their lounges, ultimately impacting travellers and frequent fliers. This prolonged even as the frequency of returning travellers grew once the pandemic subsided. Some airlines even had it worse — these services went away permanently together with the restrictions and never returned. And while most eventually survived and overcame the obstacle, it took a while before airlines figured out ways to unify and resurrect their services back to prepandemic standards.

CATHAY PACIFIC IS BACK

However, this was not the case for Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific. The time away from its fliers was also an opportunity to build upon their future. While it took a while for Hong Kong to ease up on its travel restrictions compared to other countries, there is no doubt that Cathay Pacific is back. The airline is also bringing back most, if not all, of its flights from prepandemic days up to full speed one year after its full reopening. Its planes are in capacity, lounges are bustling, and the signature green interiors have certainly overtaken the skies. So, as aviation enters its new era, we, the consumers, have been given the chance to rethink how we perceive the airlines we have grown to know and love. And with Cathay Pacific’s extensive growing network to over 90 destinations worldwide, maybe it is time we look beyond Hong Kong as just a final destination but the ideal stopover.

RETHINKING HONG KONG