Well, yes. Any sensible business tries to ensure they are subject to as little competition as possible - thus all the discussion about 'moats' in business literature.

Also, antitrust authorities look askance about companies booting others out. It can be illegal in HK, if it is an abuse of market power. If CX/UO entered a market with the aim of booting out HB, and were silly enough to document that in internal communications, not good.

HK competition law is very relaxed. Limiting only price fixing etc. Booting out competitiors using its market dominance is hardly illegal under hk law, save as certain monopolistic behaviors, such as restricting suppliers from servicing its competitors unreasonably.

You've missed the point. You think HB or HX is in any position to build "moats"? There is also a lot of discussion about "profit maximization" in business literature.

With Munich finally starting this week and UO adding Subang (airport closer to the city center of Kuala Lumpur), Cathay Group together will now be up to 100 destinations apparently.

In other news, Johannesburg is going daily.

CX will boost its BNE/PER service to 2 daily starting from this winter season.
https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...-perth-flights

if permit (either more slots are added or HX given up its slots), I expect 7 more weekly for Brisbane, possibly with the A330.

CX increases AKL to 11 weekly in NW25.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/36072...es-new-zealand

i think these australia/ NZ frequencies are past pre- covid now, along with ADL. that's nice.

in other news, HX is now giving a program for its flight attendants to change to ground staff or part time. things are getting worse... i wonder would it ever cease operations. couldn't believe they are slowly getting on par with HB.

Pilots are also geing asked to do half time or no pay leave. CX must be happy to take those trained pilots.

Honestly, HB is actually developing more naturally than HX as a new airline, but I think HX won't fail, or else it would have failed long time ago. It is a money laundering machine.

MEL isn’t quite yet back to pre-COVID with 19 weekly vs 21 pre-pandemic.

In NS25 CX moves 2 weekly MEL to BNE, while total flights to SYD/MEL/BNE/PER are still 70 per week.

Hope there will be open skies between AU and HK and India and HK (or at least higher bilateral limits between India and HK)

Are they capped at 70 per week?

Yes, FYI: Register of available capacity for Australian international airlines

"Passenger services There is no limit on the number of frequencies that may be operated between all points in Australia other than Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Western Sydney and the HKSAR. 70 services per week between Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Western Sydney and the HKSAR. With effect from the start of the Northern Winter 2025-26 timetable period: 77 services per week between Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Western Sydney and the HKSAR"

HX has the other 7 presumably?