Smaller aircraft on the horizon PERHAPS
 

That article makes it sound like a decision is a long way off. So I suppose a decision is indeed imminent.

Danny over at SCMP grasping at straws. The Cathay Group has many irons in fires and it would not be surprising if some or all would be sold or hived off ( if anyone would buy them ). Qatar is flush with cash and will be watching the 293 share price. A quick and inexpensive entry into the China SE Asia market. Two Qatari executive G650's visiting HKIA over the weekend. Gone now.

PS Don't tell Danny.

The article sounds like the decision is already made, not a long way off. I’m thinking smaller aircraft like ATR’s, Dash, etc will be in the works while the big jets will be sold off to the highest bidder. Cargo is the only operations keeping CX going at the moment.

With Chek Lap Kok passenger numbers at 1-2% of previous volumes it’s the hardest hit airport in the world. COVId is only a small part of that problem. The geopolitical situation has already sealed the City’s fate and the airline is following suite.

I’m af raid Cathay and HK will never be the same. The jewel of SE Asia and the plum of Airline operations worldwide are gone. I’m thinking CX will be the modern day PanAm.

787/350s instead of the 777-300X more like.

Maybe the long sleeved senior fleeters (are there any left?) can be repurposed onto a Q400 for a quick 2hr30min flight to Taipei at FL230. :}

I don't see the logic behind the argument for (much) smaller aircraft, beside possibly the lack of funds to pay for them.

Either we have a vaccine/quick test or we don't.

As Dan said, maybe a downgrade from 777 to A350 or 787, so still a wide body and hardly "small".

DRC, nothing will ever be the same. Additionally, you are confusing civil rights with the economy. Asia will be the primary growth market of the aviation industry for decades to come, and Hong Kong will not only survive this, but remain one of the most prosperous cities of the region.

SIZE does MATTER - in this case :ok:

Vomit Comets from May to October each year...

The group now has a large number of smaller planes already. 320 and 321neos can easily be positioned under any of the AOCs

It is just another Danny article anyway... grain of salt

Don’t believe you. Hong Kong is in the bullseye of the chicomms. They will do just enough to let HK’ers feel sort of OK but never let them fully prosper as in the part. HK has already suffered immeasurable financial and quality of life losses that will never be regained. There is nothing you can point too disputing that fact. Forget civil rights, HK’ers will be assimilated into the Beijing chicomm vision and it’s already WELL underway. I hope everyone gets the hell out ASAP. Take your money and property because Xi is already looking for more storage units to pack it all away.

No such thing as the 777-300X, I presume you meant the 777-9 or 777-8?

Airlines which already have the A320/1 and B787 in their fleet seem to be using them in preference to larger aircraft. Easier to fill and cheap to operate, with little if any premium cabin flying around unused.

EK got badly caught out with only the B777 and A380, QR not so much with smaller to medium types available.

The A220, A321LR , 787, and A350 seem the aircraft of choice in this new normal. Easier to fill to max ZFW and make a precious operating profit.

777X too big and too expensive to buy, especially in this current low fuel price era.

And don’t forget the “A50” - great aircraft for “Catfay Paciic”


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....9140509c8.jpeg

If you can't get the little details right...

there would be no need to reposition anything, just down scale the wide body operation.

If HKG was "just another city in China" then there would be a booming domestic travel market and CX/KA would actually be semi busy.

Wrong! The hordes from up north are not welcome in the territory, locals have made that abundantly clear in the past. “Domestic” travel is dead, international travel ain’t gonna happen anytime soon.
Only saving grace is transit pax, and some cargo flights that keeps the circus on the road - for now.

Maybe NR should have ordered those 777F planes

The cx groups recovery will be lead by China, Following that, Asia in general. Initially narrow bodies will make sense but not long term, as the capability for the majority of cx’s network is not there. I imagine the article refers to smaller wide bodies.