They do indeed, although the SK long-haul J product is not bad these days and has improved a lot (unless you have to connect to an intra-European flight).

The hard product is fine (hopefully they'll add doors for the A350s, like Delta) but I am finding the soft product sloppy and dinner service is usually painfully slow -- particularly so on night flights. The connection experience at ARN was abysmal as well, but that should improve given CPH is better suited for transiting pax.

Interesting observation - it could have been full of non/low-revs (CX employees/family) since they're on a standby basis and the discount is so good they'll just fly where they have seats available

It's an entirely anecdotal observation and I have little insight into actual loads in the premium cabin on this route.

I seem to remember having read somewhere a statement by CX saying that it was doing quite well. And given that HKG was top of the list of destinations (by number of pax) without a direct route from CPH before CX launched, I would expect it to be rather well performing. That said, being only 3x weekly could harm performance too.

If only CX had attractive J fares from BKK via HKG to CPH, I would be using it exclusively!

The message is also that loads were high, but yield was not good enough.

what do you guys make out of the news that Cathay Pacific will not be having this seasonal route to Copenhagen in 2019? Why couldn't they make it work? or was it really just to test the water with no intention to have a full all year round service?
Business Traveller CX discontinues CPH

CX has been touting that they are willing to be "agile" with new routes. Dusseldorf failed, now CPH, and IAD isn't looking great potentially.

Not sure how this new approach to routes is going to work out in the long run - do they lose money during these short trials?

For CPH, you can now book SAS Business class for $17k ex HKG. Not sure if CX saw these prices and said there is no way they will be able to compete anymore and withdrew.

I'm seeing r/t HKG-AMS on SAS for 15-16k in J next year -- great fares for HK!

CX made the mistake of launching their "attack" on SAS' home market with a seasonal route, let alone three flights weekly. They basically opened the door widely for SAS to move the (not so successful) ARN-HKG route to CPH (where it should have been launched from in the first place) exactly on the day after CX cease operations at CPH.

With a seasonal route they count on leisure travel - if targeting business travel they have to go all-year and higher frequencies like SAS is doing now. It takes investment and patience to open an intercontinental route, and sadly CX has shown that they are not willing to do either.

CPH loading is not that bad but the key point is HKG (O&D included) cannot afford 2 daily flight. SAS's move is earlier than CX withdrawal, seems CX knows SAS will take action so they tend to leave

CX also has terrible marketing unlike SQ and EK

they never advertise or do road shows etc except in UK where the had a huge launch for Manchester....

They did it half-heartedly, ending up with a lot of low yield leisure travellers. Not enough to keep the route alive. Though I am fairly certain they could have won out against SK if they really put an effort in place.