Cathay Pacific Airways said it will buy Boeing jets valued at about US$8 billion as the Hong Kong flag carrier posted a slight increase in first-half profit on higher passenger volumes and lower fuel prices.
The airline on Wednesday reported net profit of 3.65 billion Hong Kong dollars, equivalent to US$465 million, for the first six months of 2025, up 1.1% from a year earlier. It attributed the increase to higher passenger volumes and lower fuel prices, which offset lower yields as more capacity was added to the market.
Revenue for the period rose 9.5% to HK$54.31 billion.
Cathay Pacific’s 293 1.03%increase; green up pointing triangle passenger revenue in the first half climbed 14% to HK$34.21 billion, with its passenger load factor improving to 84.8% from 82.4% a year ago.
The airline said it will purchase 14 Boeing 777-9 aircraft with a basic price of about US$8.1 billion for delivery by 2034, bringing its order book for the plane to 35. Boeing said the order makes Cathay the biggest operator of its 777-9 jets in Asia-Pacific.
Cathay said it has the option to buy an additional seven jets and was granted significant price concessions.
Shares of Cathay Pacific fell after the results, ending 9.7% lower for its biggest one-day percentage loss in more than four years.
Cathay’s share price looks slightly overvalued, and the negative market reaction was likely due to passenger yields falling more than expected, said Lorraine Tan, director of equity research for Asia at Morningstar. The Hong Kong airline’s passenger yield dropped 12.3% in the first six months of the year.
Excerpt from WSJ
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