Strengthening partnership with CAE to advance safety and operational excellence
October 28, 2025 -- Cathay has further reinforced its commitment to safety and operational excellence with the delivery and installation of a state-of-the-art Airbus A320neo full-flight simulator at the Cathay Flight Training Centre.
Cathay Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer Alex McGowan (left) and CAE Division President, Commercial Aviation Michel Azar-Hmouda (right) unveil the new CAE Airbus A320neo full flight simulator.
This latest flight simulator was manufactured by CAE, a global leader in training and critical operations solutions for aviation. The new simulator further supports Cathay’s efforts to meet the growing demand for world-class pilot training as it embarks on a comprehensive fleet renewal and expansion plan.
The Cathay Group is investing well over HK$100 billion in its fleet, cabin and lounge products, and digital innovation to strengthen the Hong Kong international aviation hub and elevate the customer experience. This includes orders for more than 100 state-of-the-art narrowbody, regional widebody, long-haul widebody and large freighter aircraft joining the Group’s modern fleet in the coming years, with more than 30 of these being A320neo and A321neo aircraft.
Cathay held a special ceremony in Cathay House to welcome the new simulator from CAE last Friday (24 October 2025). Cathay Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer Alex McGowan and Cathay Director Flight Operations Captain Chris Kempis welcomed a delegation from CAE led by Michel Azar-Hmouda, Division President, Commercial Aviation, along with Captain Lawrence Wong, Chief, Flight Standard of the Civil Aviation Department as a special guest for the ceremony.
In brief
Cathay says a new CAE Airbus A320neo full-flight simulator has been delivered and installed at its Flight Training Centre in Hong Kong. The device was manufactured by CAE and includes the company’s Prodigy visual system. Cathay says the simulator will support pilot training as it pursues fleet renewal and expansion. The companies described the installation as part of their longstanding training partnership, which Cathay says has included a range of CAE devices at the centre. Cathay also says the Cathay Group is investing well over HK$100 billion across its fleet, cabin and lounge products, and digital innovation. Its aircraft orders include more than 100 aircraft, with more than 30 A320neo and A321neo models. A ceremony welcoming the simulator was held at Cathay House on October 24, 2025.
Key takeaways
- A CAE Airbus A320neo full-flight simulator has been installed at Cathay’s Hong Kong Flight Training Centre.
- The simulator features CAE’s Prodigy visual system, according to CAE.
- Cathay says the device will support pilot training amid fleet renewal and expansion.
- Cathay says the Group is investing well over HK$100 billion across several business areas.
Cathay’s Alex McGowan said: “Cathay and CAE have built a longstanding partnership focused on delivering high-quality training for pilots and crew, with a shared commitment to safety and operational excellence. Over the years, we have integrated a wide range of CAE training devices at our Flight Training Centre in Hong Kong. This partnership has helped Cathay to establish a state-of-the-art training environment, supporting the development of world-class aviation professionals.
“The recent addition of the A320 Neo CAE 7000XR Simulator marks another milestone in this collaboration, further strengthening Cathay’s training capabilities, advancing our training technologies, as well as nurturing future aviation talent.”
CAE’s Division President, Commercial Aviation Michel Azar-Hmouda said: “This A320 full-flight simulator marks a meaningful milestone in our collaboration with Cathay. Featuring CAE’s advanced Prodigy visual system, the device enhances training realism and supports Cathay’s commitment to operational excellence. As Cathay continues to invest in quality and commonality across its training infrastructure, CAE is proud to be a trusted partner on their journey.”
The Cathay Group’s entire fleet comprises more than 230 passenger and freighter aircraft. The Group’s premium full-service airline Cathay Pacific currently operates 16 A321neo aircraft, while its low-cost carrier HK Express operates an all-Airbus fleet of more than 40 A320, A321, A320neo and A321neo aircraft.
About the Cathay Group
The Cathay Group is a leading premium travel lifestyle brand based in Hong Kong, offering products and services across four lines of business – Premium Travel, Cargo, Low-Cost Travel and Lifestyle. Flights are provided by Cathay Pacific, the home airline of Hong Kong and a founding member of the oneworld global alliance. The Cathay Group also includes cargo division Cathay Cargo, and low-cost carrier HK Express and various subsidiaries. The Cathay Group is a member of the Swire Group and is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE). For more information, please visit www.cathay.com.
About CAE Civil Aviation Training
CAE – Civil Aviation elevates and advances human performance by providing holistic and immersive training solutions for professionals in business and commercial aviation. Whether for pilots, maintenance technicians, cabin crew or air traffic controllers, we help keep aircraft in the skies with exceptionally trained professionals ready to take on any challenge safely. We operate 85+ locations on five continents, training over 155,000 business and commercial professionals annually.
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Questions around this news
Why did Cathay add an A320neo full-flight simulator to its training centre?
The release says the simulator is intended to help Cathay meet growing demand for pilot training as the group carries out a fleet renewal and expansion plan. It also describes the addition as strengthening training capabilities and supporting the company’s focus on safety and operational excellence.
What does a full-flight simulator let pilots practise?
A full-flight simulator recreates an aircraft’s cockpit and flight behavior so pilots can practise procedures and respond to simulated situations without flying an actual aircraft. It typically includes motion, visual displays and controls designed to resemble those in the aircraft type being simulated.
Which airlines in the Cathay Group operate A320-family aircraft?
The release says Cathay Pacific operates A321neo aircraft. It also says HK Express operates an all-Airbus fleet that includes A320, A321, A320neo and A321neo aircraft. The release does not provide a separate count for each A320-family type in HK Express’s fleet.
What is a narrowbody aircraft?
A narrowbody aircraft has a single aisle running through its passenger cabin. The term is commonly used to distinguish these planes from widebody aircraft, which generally have two aisles and a wider cabin. Narrowbody aircraft are often used on shorter or medium-distance routes.
Earlier from the Cathay Group
- The Cathay Group releases traffic figures for September 2025
- The Cathay Group further strengthens its Chinese Mainland network with the announcement of daily non-stop flights between Hong Kong and Changsha
- The Cathay Group takes home 15 HKACE awards, including the Grand Award for the third year running
- The Cathay Group surpasses the 100,000-passenger milestone on a single day
- The Cathay Group welcomes back its last aircraft from long-term overseas parking
