Cathay Pacific has reactivated the last of the aircraft that had been placed in long-term storage due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as it continues to boost its capacity closer to 2019 levels.
The carrier flew the final stored aircraft—an Airbus A330—from a storage facility in Alice Springs, Australia, to Hong Kong. It has subsequently entered an “extensive hangar maintenance check” before returning to commercial service, Cathay said.
This A330 was the 85th aircraft to be returned from storage overseas. It was also the first to enter long-term storage on July 28, 2020. In addition to Alice Springs, the carrier had stored aircraft in Ciudad Real, Spain, and in Hong Kong.
Cathay said in November 2023 that it would have fewer than 10 aircraft still stored by the end of that year, with the remainder due to be reactivated in the first half of 2024. It had about 40 in storage at the end of 2022, although the carrier said this included some that were at the end of their leases and would be returned to lessors.
The carrier has been steadily increasing its capacity and has now surpassed 80% of pre-pandemic levels. It is aiming to reach 100% in the first quarter of 2025.
Cathay announced orders for A320/A321neos and A350 freighters in 2023. It is now in the process of considering orders for a midsize widebody aircraft.
More than 16,000 periodic checks were performed over the duration of the aircraft storage program in Alice Springs, Cathay said. About 800,000 labor hours were spent on preservation and periodic and reactivation maintenance. More than 40,000 parts and pieces of equipment were shipped from Hong Kong to Alice Springs to support the program.
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