Cathay Pacific to Return All Aircraft to Service, Last Long-Term Stored Plane Arrives in Hong Kong

Cathay Pacific Airways is set to return all its aircraft, which were parked overseas due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to operation.

On June 6, the last of these, an Airbus A330-300 with the registration number B-HLV, was transported from Alice Springs in Australia to Hong Kong. This aircraft became the first Cathay Pacific plane to be stored overseas for an extended period when it was parked on July 28, 2020. It will undergo maintenance in the hangar before returning to service.

During the pandemic, Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Express Airways had parked many passenger planes at Hong Kong International Airport, Alice Springs, and Ciudad Real in Spain. As the pandemic subsided, they gradually resumed operations of these aircraft.

The aircraft stored in Alice Springs underwent preservation checks and routine inspections, with 160 million checks and 800,000 hours of labor. In support of these operations, over 40,000 parts and specialized equipment were transported from Hong Kong.

The group has ordered more than 70 new aircraft and holds options for another 52. It is also exploring the introduction of new medium wide-body aircraft, anticipating the full operation of the third runway at Hong Kong International Airport by the end of the year, aiming to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an aviation hub.

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