Cathay Group orders 14 additional Airbus aircraft

Cathay Group orders 14 more Airbus jets

Hong Kong’s Cathay Group has placed a firm order for 14 additional Airbus aircraft, comprising 11 A330-900 widebody aircraft and three A321neo narrowbody aircraft. The order was announced on November 11, 2026.

The 11 A330-900s build on Cathay’s 2024 order for 30 of the same model, bringing its total firm commitment for the type to 41. The three A321neos add to a 2023 order for 32 A321neo and A320neo aircraft.

The A330-900s will support Cathay Pacific’s regional network expansion and provide additional passenger and cargo capacity. The A321neos are for HK Express, which is focusing on mainland Chinese destinations and other short-haul routes.

Investment and delivery plans

The latest orders take Cathay Group’s total committed investment for 2026 to 2035 to more than HK$150 billion (US$19.2 billion). The group said the orders bring its total aircraft deliveries from 2026 to 120, moving it closer to its plan of 150 new aircraft deliveries and a network serving 150 destinations in the next 10 years, if market conditions are favourable.

Group chief executive Ronald Lam Siu-por said: “These new orders bring our total aircraft deliveries from 2026 to 120, bringing us closer to our plan of 150 new aircraft deliveries and building a network serving 150 destinations in the next 10 years, if market conditions are favourable.”

Lam also said: “At Cathay, we continue to make important investments to elevate the experience for our customers and drive our long-term growth.”

Fleet and industry context

Cathay also ordered 14 Boeing 777-9 passenger jets in August last year. Its cargo fleet plans include Airbus A350F and A330 freighters. The latest orders follow the purchase of two additional Airbus A350F freighters in May this year.

Cathay’s fleet expansion comes as the aviation industry continues to face widespread supply-chain constraints and aircraft-delivery delays. The International Air Transport Association said in June that the global order backlog had exceeded 18,000 aircraft, equivalent to almost 12 years of production at current manufacturing rates.

Why it matters

• Cathay Group’s firm A330-900 commitment now totals 41 aircraft, supporting regional growth and fleet renewal.
• The three A321neos add to HK Express’s short-haul capacity for mainland China and other routes.
• Total investment commitments for 2026 to 2035 exceed HK$150 billion (US$19.2 billion).
• The order follows two A350F freighter purchases in May and 14 Boeing 777-9 orders from August 2025.

Sources

• scmp.com: Cathay orders 14 more Airbus jets as investment commitments top HK$150 billion | South China Morning Post
• simpleflying.com: Cathay Pacific Orders 14 More Airbus Jets As Its A330-900neo Commitment Grows To 41
• aviationnews.eu: Cathay Group Expands Fleet With 14 New Airbus Jets to Boost Regional Growth – Aviation News
• ftnnews.com: Cathay Group Orders 14 More Airbus Jets for Fleet Growth
• economyclassandbeyond.boardingarea.com: Cathay Group signs for 14 additional Airbus aircraft - Economy Class & Beyond
• insideflyer.com: Cathay adds 14 Airbus aircraft to order book - InsideFlyer

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.