Another New Aircraft Order?
 

So apparently CX is already in talks for yet another aircraft order, which is going to be 'substantial'. Ronald Lam has said that CX will need more single-aisle aircraft, along with regional widebody aircraft and freighters as well. Having already ordered 30+30 A339s and 14 extra 779s (35 total 779s on order), along with 6 A350Fs and a 32 a320neo/a321neos on order, what aircraft would we expect CX to order?

The single-aisle aircraft would likely be more a320/a321neos, but the regional widebody is a little tougher to predict. CX is probably done with 777X orders for the time being, so would an A330neo/A350 order be likely? I guess CX could put the ageing 77Ws onto regional ops alongside the remaining A333s and put some additional A350s onto long haul ops along with the 777X, or they could surprise us with a 789/78X order for regional flights.

Here's hoping for additional A350s - I still think CX needs more A35Ks, but what does everyone else think?

*Pure Speculation* The tone feels like converting A339 options into orders, so that would imply 60 confirmed orders, which be a huge fleet for regional fleet to replace A333 in the long run (and some overlaps around 2028-mid 2030s)

This would be ideal, the A339 is highly underrated and more big orders from big name carriers like CX could encourage Airbus to ramp up production of it.

Glad that Lam also (rightly) ruled out ordering any A220 / E2 jets.

No political pressure to order the C919 rather than the A320?

COMAC just had to slash their 2025 delivery target from 75 to 25 - a major setback. There will have to be substantial overcapacity (sort of similar to their EV's) before they pressure CX to buy some.

https://www.reuters.com/en/chinas-co...ow-2025-09-24/

back when the 777X extra order was announced there was rumors of another order, perhaps now finally there is more 350s (though i think it should have been earlier) and more 330neos (which would be nice), as the 773s despite their cash printing status would have to go one day. maybe a350s with reduced MTOW like JL's one could replace them.

and suprised to see more narrow bodies too. i guess this would allow even more routes and frequencies

Personally I would say the 78X is a logical solution to the aging 77P. There are not many choices in the market anyway, especially the economics of the degraded 359 is not as superior as people are saying.

But was a little surprised that CX is still buying new narrowbodies. Given the relatively low utilisation in CX fleet, and the to-be-improved load factor in UO, I was not expecting a huge order soon.

Cathay could use A321LRs to serve numerous secondary cities across Asia...

There are almost 6 fligjts a day to Canada, CX coould easily take share away from ME3 if they added flights to cities like Amritsar etc...

Personally, anything but the 787s please...

agree
787 are suited for budget airlines

I will make an exception if Cathay goes the JAL track with the Sky Wider 2-4-2 eight abreast arrangement.
LOL... only in my dream... Given how Cathay configures its fleet of A321Neo.

Honestly I think Cathay is just going to have to order more Airbus A350s, as I no longer feel any optimism in seeing 777-9s flying for CX until 2030 and after.
When SQ decides to update its Airbus A350-900ULR fleet with the new premium cabin, you know something is up. Sometimes I wonder if SQ regrets not ordering Airbus A350-1000s. Anyway, back to the main topic, I think Cathay is just sending Boeing some signals that their patience is up, and they are going to order some more new Airbus A350s even if they have to wait a bit. Those Boeing 777-300ERs are great but they are aging too. I hope CX will go for a large order of the larger Airbus A350-1000s so they can replace some of the 777-300ERs. They can worry about having too many planes only after they receive Boeing 777-9s, and not to mention, please pray that Boeing has no unpleasant surprises and no teething issues with 777X. Given 787 initial rough entry of service (battery fire... remember), I expect the same with 777X.

Carfield

My (current) vote is for before 2030 but after the 2027 they have listed in their latest reports. At this stage though, I feel like my time would be better spent buying mark six than trying to predict when those 779s will arrive.

As an aside, I hope Boeing fixes those horrible window shades on the 787 (which is my chief gripe about the 787s) before they put them in the 779s.

They are still my favourite after the Queen! :)

It is a bit tempting to speculate CX is pressurising Boeing to give a heavy discount on 78X to compensate for the 779 delay, even though the discount might well be the given to the top-up 779 order.

There has been speculation on possible common rating of 777 and 787 by HKCAD. It may impact CX's decision on their new regional wide-body aircraft order (and given the possible heavy discount to be offered by Boeing).

Cathay may order up to 17 A350-1000s with lower MTOW and range to replace aging 777-300 non-ERs.