Fuel surcharge decrease
 

Wow.. I'm pretty shocked how fast they lowered it... Usually these things go up pretty quickly, but take ages for them to reverse...

https://www.thestandard.com.hk/news/...-tensions-ease

the sharp YR increase made CX and UO very uncompetitve comparing to other airlines with relative less increase in YR.
For instance, UO to Tokyo without check-in luggage is more expensive (net) comparing with full service carriers such as NH/HX with luggage and superior services.

I'm very surprised, too. Cathay was saying that the fuel surcharge (YR) is not enough to sustain the operation so that they had to cancel some flights in May 2026. Now they are willing to lower the YR?

Maybe it’s hitting demand? I’ve been looking at a trip to Mainland China for Xmas by train instead of flying, for example. And I’m not willing to pay crazy CX prices to Asian destinations, even 4K plus in Y. Not worth it.

I think train has especially good value around Christmas since flights will definitely jack their prices, but otherwise it is weirdly expensive. E.g. the HongKong/Shanghai train tickets are ~1000RMB one way (thought sleeper is ~800)

High Speed Rail tickets are priced by the relevant authorities in mainland China, and since Christmas is not a public holiday in China, of course it's going to be cheap compared to Cathay flights (and China's train fares doesn't fluctuate as much as airfares anyway

similar, it has been a long-known strategy to book flights ex-SZX or CAN if possible during Christmas/Easter, to avoid price hikes ex-HKG

JL / NH raised their YQs at the beginning of May, looks like they're going the other way round?

In the past week I've sat in half (or more) empty cabins on regional flights in the U.S., Europe and Asia, with at least a spare seat beside me and in some cases (SQ and AA regional/domestic) spare rows around me. One flight in the midwest US had the sort of yield I remember last seeing on that sized plane in the late nineties.
Both TATL were almost full, but U.K.-Asia was not. All in economy, none on CX, but anecdotally I'm starting to suspect that much higher fares are materially hurting demand in full-service aviation. Time will tell.

FWIW, 3 TPAC on CX since Iran was attacked - 2 Eastbound and one west(north)bound:
Y was full on all three flights; 3-4 seats in PEY went out empty.

IIRC CX is the only viable and safe option for South Asia to Canada ATM

Yes, 4K for BKK in Y in summer holidays, I add $900 and take emirates J instead.