Because it is an airline from India. Don’t forget the geopolitical context.

And I think you are underestimating the tactics that UA would use.

Big story on SCMP says Beijing pressuring Cathay on starting more routes within the Middle East and Asia, particularly to Belt and Road countries, but Cathay doesn't have the pilots.

The enforcement mechanism, supposedly, is opening those routes more from mainland cities. But this is strange given the piece notes that mainland cities are already getting routes to these places like crazy lately.

Cathay denies story.

Also, Riyadh launching October at the earliest and Southeast Asian countries have been seeking more service to smaller cities like Ipoh and Hua Hin. The HK Airport Authority has been looking into giving more foreign airlines access given local airlines can't seem to meet the demand.

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...gtype=homepage

Irony of course is that it was China's Covid policies, adopted by HK (which is a smaller "bubble" than the typical Chinese province; but much more expensive to live in) which led to the exodus of skilled pilots from CX (and cabin crew too, I might add).
CX cut BAH. And DXB is still at just one per day (was twice daily pre-Covid)
It also of course persuaded many carriers to withdraw from HKG, e.g. VS and also KC (the latter being why there are no longer any flights between HKG & Kazakhstan)

I'm just hoping that CX service standards in-flight improve markedly from my last flight with them (DXB-HKG) before direct services to RUH start.

Cathay's inability to grow larger or even match its 2019 numbers is what will be the justification of a mainland takeover.

It's intentional.

Beijing won't be happy that a city under its control is ceding all its wealth to a city not under its control ... Singapore
CX 's demise is just a tiny reflection of the overall decline of HK in Asia.

Justify more mainalnd control, clearly the supposed market based system HKG has does not work .

What are your sources for this claim?

what claim?

That CX Is a shell of itself and the current state of CX can't be blamed on covid anymore but the incompetent management?

The mainland takeover conspiracy theory, of course!

A blog by someone who hawks credit cards falls short of the "reputable" standard. If you have true insider information, but are uncomfortable revealing your sources, it would be okay to provide a tiny bit (I realize these are dangerous waters, so tread carefully) of background info.

I don't hate CX.
I'm just not blind to the fact that it is tiny compared to what it was .

I would argue that … CX has major issues and …that the management is not serious about restoring frequency, destinations and service standards… [moderator edits to remove overly personalized comments]

CX management was not good in COVID, not enough pilots and planes is the consequence, and it's not easy to get them nowadays, so CX can't fully recover.

It isn't mainland takeover thats stopping them

Some people(especially non-locals) do not understand that CX has shifted its pilot management strategy. CX would rather like to train locals to be their future captains instead of luring foreign pilots as before, it will take a few years, but this is a more sustainable approach.

Should CX be in a hurry? No.

1. HK airport is also lack of ground resources, not limited to security, ground handling staff, drivers, maintenance.
2. Boeing cannot deliver its aircraft on time. I don't think 777X will arrive in 2025 as planned. A320neo is also faced with some delay.
3. Demand in/out of Hong Kong is not that good. HK-UK/North America is robust, but regional destinations and Australia/New Zealand performed poorly.
4. Decoupling of China/the West has passed the point of no return while China is undergoing some economic transition for several years. This will hurt international service in/out of China structurally.

Then why CX should hurry up now?

Local pilot pool.

Remember HK does not have an air-force that pilots can retire to civilian duties.
The cadet program is a great start in the correct direction. You got enthusiastic youth, train through CX program, inspired by the TVB series

CX is not hiring pilots from overseas and losing marketshare.
these future local pilots will have no airline to work for or an aviation industry in HK because of CX's shortsightedness.
I never realised that Trump like anti foreigner policies were popular in HK.
It never works.....

[inapropriate comment removed by moderator]

Over 400 foreign pilots have hired by Cathay in the past 12 months alone and I understand another 40 fully qualified 1st officers are on the way - many from the recent CX around Australia recruiting roadshow.
Many are former CX pilots most with families that are returning to HK and the airline.
Apparently the airlines generous allowances are a major draw for families - fully family medical and dental cover, up to 60K p.m. housing allowance, schooling allowance of 100K per child p.a. (HK$) Also of course HKG's very low taxation nominaly 15% but with the many allowances few pay more than 10% tax -not forgetting there is no import duty or sales tax in HKG . Good NZ wines are cheaper in HKG than in New Zealand
Private schools particularly AIS (Australian International School) has seen a significant up-kick in pupil numbers numbers over the past 15 months.

[please see rule 12]

Of Cathay cannot grow to meet booming demand, market share goes elsewhere! The fact they're not even using the A350-1000 but the smallest option available in the -900 to LHR also shows what the market is doing.
No point in launching LGW if LHR slots are hardly being maxed out. There's a lot of passengers flying other carriers now who would pre COVID have chosen Cathay.