Has Cathay ever served Saudi Arabia market in the past? or this is purely a new route?
https://news.cathaypacific.com/catha...ong-and-riyadh

They have served both Riyadh and Jeddah in the past. Don't remember when they stopped flights to Jeddah but they stopped flights to Riyadh in 2017.

CX-JX dynamics

Hong Kong (Chinese) media reported OneWorld CEO Pieper citing the limited number of members in any particular region as a strength rather than a shortcoming. He drew a contrast with Star, and questioned whether having 7-8 in APAC was truly conducive to a stronger alliance. He seemed to think it just led to more competition within the alliance. As such, he thought it would suffice for OneWorld to have adequate coverage of destinations (in which case JX destinations would not add to what CX, JL already offer).

When adding members, he said [only when we reach a conclusion that current members cannot develop a particular region well enough will we even consider whether to absorb a new members, and conduct the requisite analysis]. "Is it really worth it to admit a new member, only to sacrifice a current one? I don't think so."

https://www.hk01.com/%E8%B2%A1%E7%B6...9C%B0%E5%8D%80

Unlike CZ, JX doesn't pose much of a threat to CX's role within the alliance as the gateway to China, but that doesn't mean supporting JX is in CX's best interests either. Maybe JX can also try to forge bilateral partnerships with Oneworld founding members other than CX?

i dont think theres any chance for JX to join oneworld, HKG and TPE are too close, not to mention JX serves a lot of japan and south east Asia which CX is very strong in, so CX would likely veto it.

Fast growing Taiwanese airline Starlux seems to be the latest airline queueing to join the OW alliance.
The airline was founded in 2018 by ex EVA major shareholder and chairman Chang Kuo-wei after a serious family dispute that pushed him out of
EVA. As one of Taiwan’s richest men and very able airline executive he vowed to start his own airline – the result being ‘5 star’ Starlux.
I have not traveled with them yet but those that do rate them highly.Actually Starlux is even now not so small for a new player as already it operates an all-Airbus passenger fleet that already includes the A350-900, A330neo and A321neo totaling a very young fleet of 22 aircraft.
There are also 12 aircraft on order A330neo A350s and A350 freighters.

Obviously they are fast becoming a serious player but are very restricted if they want to join an alliance as already China Airlines and EVA are members of the other 2 major alliances.
With Star ordering 5 X A350 freighters clearly they are already wanting to eat some of Cathay’s (a very major freighter player) breakfast.
At first pass it would seems that the only way that Cathay would not play the veto re OW membership would be if the airlines formed some sort of major long term joint venture agreement.

Possibly this is not entirely out of the question but I feel perhaps unlikely ?

Funny how a tiny airline like Starlux could secure airplane delivery slots and provide a high standard of service during the same time period when the experienced Swire has failed to.

Starlux should join oneworld and the HKG government should allow taiwanese airlines to operate out of HKG as a local HKG airline .

They clearly are better at managing airlines during disasters.

Fly a 30 year old A330 with 2-2-2 seating or Starlux with an all new fleet and all aisle access in business class.

OW should kick CX out and get a better airline that actually wants to be an airline.

Cx can then focus their attention on building the " Cathay " brand.

Is CX the worst airline in OW?
As a founding member of OW, why you think ow can kick cx out?
And also, how funny you think hk government should allow taiwanese airlines to operate out of HKG as a local HKG airline. It does not make sense on that

Could you please tell me which aircraft in the CX fleet is ‘a 30 year old A330’?

the number of made up information in this post has reached an all time high...

CX mostly flew A350s during the pandemic as its fuel efficient. starlux had nearly no destinations during covid.

every airline was struggling in covid and offered cost cutting service.

not quite 330 but seem oldest one is 777
B-HNH 22/05/1998

It is only 26 years old with 2 years sitting in the desert.

i wasnt the OP who commented about "30y" i merely added a comment...

IIRC, CX didn't end up having to use a formal veto to thwart CZ, and its value proposition was something that fellow alliance partners actually cared about (and, eventually got, independent of the alliance). The CZ discussion just magically faded away.

I predict JX will unfold in a similar manner.
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Good! They need a reintroduction of some DESERT! POWER! to get their mojo back. [Cue Dune soundtrack]