Cathay Pacific Celebrates 40 Years of Transpacific Service

Cathay Pacific commemorates its 40th anniversary of transpacific operations in North America. The airline’s pioneering service commenced with a non-stop flight from Hong Kong (HKG) to Vancouver (YVR) on May 1, 1983.

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Related: Cathay Pacific Reintroduces Its First-Class Offering

Initially, Cathay Pacific offered two flights per week on this route, operated by Boeing 747-200s. During the 1990s, the airline modernized its fleet with the introduction of Boeing 747-400 and Airbus A340-300 aircraft.

From Vancouver (YVR), Cathay Pacific also provided fifth freedom flights to Toronto – Pearson (YYZ) and New York (JFK). However, the JFK service was suspended amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the 21st century, Cathay Pacific phased out its quad-engine operations and adopted the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. In 2017, the airline further modernized its fleet by introducing the cutting-edge Airbus A350-900 for its Vancouver (YVR) services.

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Presently, the Hong Kong-based carrier operates eight weekly flights between Hong Kong (HKG) and Vancouver (YVR), with a total weekly seat offering of 5,888. The airline’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft features a 368-seat capacity across three classes (40 Business Class/32 Premium Economy/296 Economy).

Since the inaugural Boeing 747-200 landing 40 years ago, Cathay Pacific has transported over 13 million passengers to and from Vancouver (YVR). The airline opened its first office at YVR with 26 employees, and today, it employs nearly 300 staff members across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

Vancouver (YVR) remains a crucial route in Cathay Pacific’s North American network, alongside New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), and San Francisco (SFO). The airline offers YVR passengers seamless connections to a wide range of destinations throughout its extensive Asia-Pacific network.