Cathay's London operations for 2022/23 and beyond
Nov 22, 2023, 11:19 am
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2021
Programs: CX Asia Miles
Posts: 79
Second you! Aside the big benefit of having a noticeably quieter cabin, the A359/1 cabin products are also far better and more modern across the board vs the 77W. Granted, Y has now been updated with higher quality screens and increased screen size (alas to a tighter 3-4-3 config). Interestingly, the cushioning in Y on the 77W does feel noticeably thinner than that in the A359/1, one of the reasons why I'll be sad to see the A350s no longer serve London come March. Hoping they'll also update PEY, it does look noticeably dated when compared to what is featured in the A350s.
Nov 22, 2023, 4:33 pm
#32
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: QRPC, BAEC
Posts: 682
Agree it is a little surprising they wouldn't keep the 257/256 rotation as an airbus since it's often lighter on the loading, but I was told that LHR is a massive cargo port for Cathay and the 77W offers more space/weight capacity for the cargo customers and is their equipment of choice! I guess we forget that the self loading freight isn't the only customer on these flights 😂!
Jan 18, 2024, 4:18 am
#33
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2021
Programs: CX Asia Miles
Posts: 79
London frequencies
Just returned to London with CX via HKG. An excellent set of flights overall, notwithstanding a series of delays when I flew LHR-HKG a few weeks ago. Definitely preferred the A351 on CX238 versus the 77W (CX251)- as others have experienced and commented previously, the A350 feels much more spacious and certainly quieter over the 77W, so I'm glad I got the chance to fly on it before LHR flights are fully reverted to the 777 come March.
I am very interested to see what CX plan RE. capacity in London now that this route is becoming busier and in higher demand. While in transit in HKG yesterday, both my flight (CX251) and CX255 were completely full and the ground staff mentioned that this is common now, with overbooking also occurring on the two overnight flights to London. Luggage space on board during boarding was also limited, with cabin crew having to check many bags into the hold. I'm wondering wether CX will try and add further capacity to LHR (unlikely due to slot availability) or reopen LGW this year, as it seems like more capacity is needed?
I am very interested to see what CX plan RE. capacity in London now that this route is becoming busier and in higher demand. While in transit in HKG yesterday, both my flight (CX251) and CX255 were completely full and the ground staff mentioned that this is common now, with overbooking also occurring on the two overnight flights to London. Luggage space on board during boarding was also limited, with cabin crew having to check many bags into the hold. I'm wondering wether CX will try and add further capacity to LHR (unlikely due to slot availability) or reopen LGW this year, as it seems like more capacity is needed?
Jan 18, 2024, 12:50 pm
#34
Join Date: May 2023
Location: UK/HK/USA
Programs: BA Executive Club, CX Asia Miles, FlyingBlue, TrueBlue
Posts: 232
Pilot issue is likely to mean not much headway addressing capacity on this route for awhile I should think, unless it's prioritized over others.
Possibly at best in the short term we see them shift capacity during holidays (especially school holidays) when the route is especially popular and others less so.
It is worth noting though that CX has been in conversations with Birmingham about a route there, which could relieve some LHR traffic.
Possibly at best in the short term we see them shift capacity during holidays (especially school holidays) when the route is especially popular and others less so.
It is worth noting though that CX has been in conversations with Birmingham about a route there, which could relieve some LHR traffic.
Jan 18, 2024, 7:48 pm
#35
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 415
Just returned to London with CX via HKG. An excellent set of flights overall, notwithstanding a series of delays when I flew LHR-HKG a few weeks ago. Definitely preferred the A351 on CX238 versus the 77W (CX251)- as others have experienced and commented previously, the A350 feels much more spacious and certainly quieter over the 77W, so I'm glad I got the chance to fly on it before LHR flights are fully reverted to the 777 come March.
I am very interested to see what CX plan RE. capacity in London now that this route is becoming busier and in higher demand. While in transit in HKG yesterday, both my flight (CX251) and CX255 were completely full and the ground staff mentioned that this is common now, with overbooking also occurring on the two overnight flights to London. Luggage space on board during boarding was also limited, with cabin crew having to check many bags into the hold. I'm wondering wether CX will try and add further capacity to LHR (unlikely due to slot availability) or reopen LGW this year, as it seems like more capacity is needed?
I am very interested to see what CX plan RE. capacity in London now that this route is becoming busier and in higher demand. While in transit in HKG yesterday, both my flight (CX251) and CX255 were completely full and the ground staff mentioned that this is common now, with overbooking also occurring on the two overnight flights to London. Luggage space on board during boarding was also limited, with cabin crew having to check many bags into the hold. I'm wondering wether CX will try and add further capacity to LHR (unlikely due to slot availability) or reopen LGW this year, as it seems like more capacity is needed?
Jan 19, 2024, 1:01 am
#37
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: London
Posts: 726
Given the number of emails I'm getting from CX advertising sales ex London for HKG and Asia/Pacific I wonder if forward bookings are looking materially down compared to just a few months ago.
Certainly there is a lot more cheap Business class fares to BKK/SIN from LHR on CX compared to just a couple of months ago.
Certainly there is a lot more cheap Business class fares to BKK/SIN from LHR on CX compared to just a couple of months ago.
Jan 19, 2024, 11:02 am
#39
Join Date: Jul 2023
Location: New Zealand
Programs: CX Gold
Posts: 114
Given the number of emails I'm getting from CX advertising sales ex London for HKG and Asia/Pacific I wonder if forward bookings are looking materially down compared to just a few months ago.
Certainly there is a lot more cheap Business class fares to BKK/SIN from LHR on CX compared to just a couple of months ago.
Certainly there is a lot more cheap Business class fares to BKK/SIN from LHR on CX compared to just a couple of months ago.
no one wants to book on an airline that cant gurantee their planes will take off.
It's the basics of running an airline.
BA can at least guarantee their flights to HKG will depart.
Jan 19, 2024, 1:31 pm
#40
Join Date: May 2023
Location: UK/HK/USA
Programs: BA Executive Club, CX Asia Miles, FlyingBlue, TrueBlue
Posts: 232
I find these "the routes must be empty" replies to a post about how the route was full hilarious.
HK was Heathrow's 12th busiest route last year, beating Singapore:
https://skift.com/2024/01/11/ranked-...ngers-in-2023/
...and HK was not fully open until March.
Most of the capacity on that route isn't the only other competitor, BA.
The sales are likely because it's not peak period but they want to maintain capacity / slots for peak periods. Many airlines do sales after the holidays; my inbox is full of them.
HK was Heathrow's 12th busiest route last year, beating Singapore:
https://skift.com/2024/01/11/ranked-...ngers-in-2023/
...and HK was not fully open until March.
Most of the capacity on that route isn't the only other competitor, BA.
The sales are likely because it's not peak period but they want to maintain capacity / slots for peak periods. Many airlines do sales after the holidays; my inbox is full of them.
Jan 19, 2024, 6:22 pm
#41
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,346
I've said it before and I stand by till today: CX's position as a top tier Asian airline indeed is in flux, with airlines like Singapore, JAL/ANA, EVA/Starlux pushing them hard. But make no mistake, CX is still miles ahead of any European or North American airline right now.
Jan 20, 2024, 5:02 am
#42
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2021
Programs: CX Asia Miles
Posts: 79
BHX would be an interesting choice for CX. However, if they are now looking at expanding capacity in the UK, I would have thought they would seek to do this by either adding another frequency to LHR (e.g. using Cathay cargo slots to add another passenger flight) or reopen LGW. LHR is already at 5 daily on certain days of the week, and I'd expect that it is only a matter of time before we have 5 daily 7 days a week with the 77W (A350-1000 will no longer serve LHR from March).
Jan 20, 2024, 7:03 am
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,566
BHX would be an interesting choice for CX. However, if they are now looking at expanding capacity in the UK, I would have thought they would seek to do this by either adding another frequency to LHR (e.g. using Cathay cargo slots to add another passenger flight) or reopen LGW. LHR is already at 5 daily on certain days of the week, and I'd expect that it is only a matter of time before we have 5 daily 7 days a week with the 77W (A350-1000 will no longer serve LHR from March).
To increase in February to 4 or 5, and some odd days still 3..
Whether the plan to offer 5 daily 77W will materialize is open to debate.
And demand is seasonal with British school holidays.
Jan 20, 2024, 10:13 am
#44
Join Date: May 2023
Location: UK/HK/USA
Programs: BA Executive Club, CX Asia Miles, FlyingBlue, TrueBlue
Posts: 232
BHX would be an interesting choice for CX. However, if they are now looking at expanding capacity in the UK, I would have thought they would seek to do this by either adding another frequency to LHR (e.g. using Cathay cargo slots to add another passenger flight) or reopen LGW. LHR is already at 5 daily on certain days of the week, and I'd expect that it is only a matter of time before we have 5 daily 7 days a week with the 77W (A350-1000 will no longer serve LHR from March).
Jan 20, 2024, 6:10 pm
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,689
Many recent arrived HKers do not have plans to fly to HKG in the next many years.