Although I don't like this config one bit, I admit to preferring they all be under one roof. So I'd be pleased if this is true. The fewer regional birds CX has the better...because it means incrementally better J class product predictability if I book CX regionally.

At least when I fly KA metal I know, unless I book F to PEK or PVG, I'm in those uncomfortable regional J seats. Predictable if nothing else.

It really sucks when you book a flight in CX with longhaul J and get swapped to regional. So the fewer regional birds at CX the better IMO.

Perhaps this is why CX planes are rostered into KA flights from time to time. KHH seems to be a popular spot for using CX metal. A few days ago, a CX 77w was flying KA432/433. Last month, I flied KHH-HKG in a CX longhaul A333 . Nice to see this though from a passenger perspective.

I understand that HLJ and HLK are >25 years old with a number of the CX/KA 330 fleet approaching that benchmark. Will good to see some renewal especially given the tech issues that seem to be affecting these older birds. CX's first batch of five 35Ks seems to be close to ready for delivery so hopefully that will see some 77Ws subbed for 330s on CX's network as 35Ks sub for 77Ws.

Seems unlikely, unfortunately. 5 77Ws are leaving the fleet in the next few years (first one is this year), meanwhile the first 35K isn't subbing - it's going to IAD, a new route. That route will require two 35K frames.

Put it this way. In September, two 35K frames are needed for IAD so safe to say CX will have at least two birds by then (CX's first delivery was pushed from April to June...hopefully there aren't any more issues). Around the same time, the first 77H frame is going back to the lessor reducing the 77W fleet size by 1. So it stands to reason another 77H long-haul route will either be cut or swap to 35K. G-CIVG, a poster with usually reliable info has indicated a flight on the "swapping" block could be CX884/885 to LAX (77H->35K), a route which will require another 35K frame in a very tight rotation with the birds serving IAD, or two more if being safe. So it seems like at least 4/5 of the first 35K deliveries could be accounted by just by adding IAD and making up the loss of another 77H longhaul route, possibly CX884/885. If that makes any sense. I'm not sure when the second 77H is scheduled to leave, but rumors on here have indicated 1 this year in 2018, and at least 2 more next year in 2019.

Surprised to see that the 4/weekly IAD rotations require a full two frames. Also I think the 77H retirements are going to happen more slowly than the A35Ks come online. Remember only 5 of the 20 A35K frames were deferred from 2020 to 2021 leaving 15 to be delivered prior then (5 of which appear to be sitting in Toulouse close to ready). Then there are the 6 359s to be delivered from next year.

Fair point about the 4k weekly. It technically requires 2 frames on the days it goes back to back, but all the others won't. But if CX884/885 swaps as expected, that definitely requires two frames (assuming the flight stays daily), so you'll still need a minimum of 3 birds to keep both routes running, and it will be very tight two days of the week. Realistically you need 4 if one of the birds goes tech or gets stuck somewhere.

I'd love for more regularity across the regional schedule and am very hopeful the 77Hs stay around longer. But CX has disappointed me long enough on regional premium travel, and increasingly so long-haul. I'm not getting my hopes up.

Damn! CX884/885 is my usual F choice for my LAX trips. Sad if this is true! Lately when I fly, I see lots of 77H sitting on the tarmac at HKG. Looks like they have lots of 77H spare frames during day time. A bit off topic, I'd better burn my miles fast before the AM 'enhancement' for redemption kicking in. Does anyone know when this might happen?

ditto on CX885. I really like the daytime return in F. Hoping he's not right...but he often is.

First 5 A351 will be rotated across 3 ports by the end of the year, IAD, TLV and SYD.

Have heard next up are (well 351 only operates to TLV for a month or so) LGW and MAN.

884 with F would be able to last for at least one or two more seasons. I have also heard that ZRH may compete with it on its way to the chopping block. (For where F is somewhat stalling, just reference where they took away Krug.)

Again, I could be totally wrong.

I hope 884/5 keeps F for as long as possible. There are fewer and fewer opportunities to have the tea set. It will be discontinued across J class for all flights by mid 2019.

Thanks for the heads up. I am never a fan of the tea set. You don't need to sit in F/J longhaul to have it. You just need to take a mid afternoon flight to SIN in J :D I believe it's the same tea set, right?

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First class ‘refreshed’ cabin updates
 

We maintain a page here. The info is in the 77H subfleet section. Cathay Pacific / Cathay Dragon Fleet, Route and Configuration Guide

CX should seriously consider buying around 15 more B777-9X, another way is to introduce F to 77G during the conversion to 10 abreast, as A350-1000 without F is equivalent to 77G (with introduction of A350-900 J and W is recommended)

CX if it is still around and run by SWIRE will easily have 50 777-9 by 2025

the more pressing issue for CX is its plans to replace it gigantic ( the world's largest) A330-300 regional fleet across CX and KA