With this latest addition, the airline now operates close to 120 return flights per week to North America
April 4, 2026 -- Cathay Pacific today officially launched its non-stop passenger flights between Hong Kong and Seattle, providing customers with the only direct connection between the airline’s home city and Washington State’s vibrant cultural and tech capital. Operating five times per week, the new service extends the airline’s passenger network in North America to a total of nine destinations.
As part of Cathay’s 80th anniversary celebrations, the inaugural Hong Kong-Seattle flight was operated by the airline’s special-edition Airbus A350 aircraft featuring its iconic “lettuce leaf sandwich” livery, honouring eight decades of moving its home city, people and customers forward since 1946.
Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “As we celebrate ‘80 Years Together’ connecting Hong Kong with the world, the launch of our Seattle service highlights the deepening ties between two global centres of innovation, culture, and commerce. Seattle’s spirit of creativity and entrepreneurship mirrors Hong Kong’s own energy, making this route especially meaningful for us.
At a glance
- Company
- Cathay Pacific
- Announcement
- Expansion
- Location
- Hong Kong
Key figures
- Weekly Hong Kong–Seattle service
- five times per week
- North American passenger destinations
- nine
- Weekly return flights to North America
- close to 120
- Cathay Group investment
- well over HK$100 billion
- Summer-peak weekly return freighter flights to North America
- close to 40
People
- Lavinia LauChief Customer and Commercial Officer
Products and programs
“Through the Cathay Group’s investment of well over HK$100 billion into our fleet, cabin products, lounges and digital innovation, we are committed to offering customers a seamless and elevated travel experience whether they are travelling to Hong Kong or connecting to onward destinations through our global network covering more than 100 destinations worldwide. This new service not only enhances connectivity for business and leisure travellers, but also reinforces our role in supporting Hong Kong’s position as a leading international aviation hub.”
Cathay Pacific’s Hong Kong-Seattle service is operated by its Airbus A350-900 aircraft, providing customers with fully flat beds in Business class, spacious seats in Premium Economy, and comfort in the World’s Best Economy. Flight schedules are as follows:
30 March – 31 May 2026; 16 September – 24 October 2026
1 June – 15 September 2026
This summer, Cathay Pacific is operating close to 120 return flights per week to nine passenger destinations across North America, including Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver.
The new Seattle service also provides more options for cargo customers, with the belly space on Cathay Pacific’s passenger flights complementing the close to 40 weekly return freighter flights operated by Cathay Cargo to North America during the summer peak.
For more information, visit www.cathaypacific.com.
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In brief
Cathay Pacific has launched a passenger route between Hong Kong and Seattle, operating five times a week with Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The airline says the service extends its North American passenger network to nine destinations and gives cargo customers additional capacity through space aboard passenger flights. Cathay says it operates close to 120 weekly return flights to North America during the summer, alongside close to 40 weekly return freighter flights by Cathay Cargo during the summer peak. The inaugural flight used a special-edition Airbus A350 marking the airline’s 80th anniversary. Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said the route reflects growing links between Hong Kong and Seattle. She also cited the Cathay Group’s investment of well over HK$100 billion in its fleet, cabin products, lounges and digital innovation.
Key takeaways
- Cathay Pacific launched direct passenger flights between Hong Kong and Seattle, operating five times per week.
- The airline says Seattle brings its North American passenger network to nine destinations.
- The service adds cargo capacity through belly space on passenger flights.
- The inaugural flight featured an anniversary livery on a special-edition Airbus A350.
Earlier from Cathay Pacific
- Cathay Pacific’s service to Adelaide takes off
- Cathay Pacific’s daily direct flights between Hong Kong and Changsha take off
- Cathay Pacific named among the world’s top three best airlines, and wins world’s best Economy class and inflight entertainment in annual Skytrax awards
- Cathay Pacific takes off from Hong Kong to Munich for the first time
- Cathay Pacific’s direct flights between Hong Kong and Rome take off
