The 'Cathay Pacific' branding is an important to me as I have been flying the airline since 1972.and have many fond memories both old and also much newer.
A great memory was fling often down to Sydney and back in the airlines first 747-100.
Great days! I knew most of the pilots well as we all drank at the aero club very adjacent to the runway at the Kowloon City end.
I used to do the trip about every 6 weeks often on the way 'home' landed back at Kai Tak siting in the cockpit jump seat. Great memories !

Today is very different but no less enjoyable the best trip being First class to London and enjoying also the first class lounge at ether end. Still one of the best flight experiences.
Dropping the 'pacific' from some of the branding is not the end of the world and times change.
The word 'cathay' originates from medieval Europe and was derived from the word Khitan who were the race that inhabited Mongolia and some of northern China. It is only in more recent times that the name 'Cathay' started to be used as a name for all of China

I was shown an image last week that was said to be the NEW 1st class seat . It looked extremely good and very much like an updated version of the present seat and from the same design house I was told.
It reminded me of an enhanced JAL new 1st seat . I cant vouch of course that this IS the new 1st seat but it may well be.