Cathay Pacific Disappointed By Boeing 777X Delays

Cathay Pacific has expressed its disappointment about the latest Boeing 777X delays, which have derailed the airline’s plans to introduce its first aircraft of the type in 2025.

Keen on timely deliveries

Speaking with Bloomberg, Alex McGowan, the chief operations and service delivery officer of Cathay Pacific, the executive remarked that the airline would like to receive all of its ordered aircraft on time.

When that does not happen, the airline is disappointed, McGowan added, which included the latest delays to the 777X program.

While both manufacturers are struggling with delivery delays, Cathay Pacific’s ire will be largely directed at Boeing. On October 11, the United States-based plane maker announced that the 777X’s entry-into-service (EIS) date would be delayed to 2026.

The airline’s fleet plan in its 2024 interim report showed that it was scheduled to welcome two 777-9 aircraft in 2025, with the remaining 19 777-9s on order being delivered in 2026 and beyond.

At the time, its other widebody order was for six Airbus A350F freighters, which were scheduled for delivery beyond 2026.

In May 2023, Airbus delayed the A350F’s EIS date to 2026, with Xavier Tardy, the then interim chief financial officer (CFO) of the manufacturer, saying that there was a slight slip in the planning of the program.

Nevertheless, the 777-9 was supposed to become the airline’s flagship aircraft, arriving at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) with Cathay Pacific’s new first class cabins, in 2025.

Cathay Pacific ordered 30 Airbus A330-900 aircraft on August 7, with the airline also securing 30 options for the widebody type.

Fewer first class seats

While the airline has begun retrofitting its 777-300ERs with new interiors, including new Aria suites, the retrofitted 777-300ERs will lose their first class product, potentially resulting in Cathay Pacific having fewer first class seats with further 777-9 delays.

Planespotters.net pointed out that the first retrofitted 777-300ER, registered as B-KPO, had six first class, 53 business, 34 premium economy, and 201 economy class seats.

When it reentered commercial service on October 18, 2024, the aircraft welcomed passengers with 45 business, 48 premium economy, and 268 economy class seats.

Ch-aviation data showed that Cathay Pacific has 22 aircraft with first class seats: four A330-300 and 18 777-300ERs. However, the A330 quartet has been stored since 2020, and it is unlikely that they will return to service anytime soon.

Vivian Lo, the head of customer experience and design at Cathay Pacific, told Skift that the carrier has planned to keep a skeleton network of first class-equipped aircraft, reserving them to operate the core routes for the most prestigious cabin.

Data from the aviation analytics company Cirium showed that between January 1 and September 30, Cathay Pacific had a total of 11,196 first class seats.

During the same period in 2025 (with the latest data showing flights up to September 30, 2025), the airline has scheduled 6,504 first class seats, a reduction of 41.9% year-on-year (YoY).

Welcoming Airbus single-aisle jets

According to the airline’s 2024 half-year report, as of June 30, it had planned to welcome four Airbus A320neo or A321neo aircraft during the year. Its low-cost subsidiary, HK Express, was scheduled to receive six A321neo by the end of the year.

Ch-aviation data showed that between January 1 and October 22, Cathay Pacific and HK Express welcomed two and five A321neos, respectively.

Airbus delivered one A321neo, registered as B-KKE, on February 28. The other six aircraft were handed over to the two carriers between June 14 and September 16.

The site’s fleet records indicated that Cathay Pacific should take delivery of two A321neo this year.

One A321neo, registered as B-HBT, had its first flight on October 4, and it should be delivered in November. The other Airbus single-aisle jet, which should arrive in Hong Kong in December, has not had its first flight yet, ch-aviation records showed.

Meanwhile, HK Express should take delivery of two A321neo, registered as B-KKJ and B-KKL, in November. The two aircraft operated their first flights on September 17 and October 11, respectively.