Cathay Pacific has been serving Europe from its hub in Hong Kong for several decades, beginning with its first flight to London on July 16, 1980. Over the years, the airline expanded its European network, adding destinations such as Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Manchester, Paris, Rome, and Zurich.
The airline’s Boeing 747s became a regular sight at European airports, followed by the Boeing 777-300ER, which continued to serve the European routes faithfully. More recently, Cathay has introduced the Airbus A350, which has since become the most frequently used aircraft on its European routes.
Cathay Pacific was an early adopter of the A350, with the airline beginning operations with the aircraft in 2016. Its A350 fleet now includes 48 planes, with 30 A350-900s and 18 A350-1000s. While the A350 has served Cathay Pacific well, it has not been without some challenges. For instance, the airline faced a delay with its first A350 due to issues with the installation of new business class seats.
More recently, the airline grounded its A350 fleet temporarily for inspections of its Rolls-Royce XWB-97 engines after a Zurich-bound flight (CX383) experienced an engine fire on September 2, 2024. Following voluntary inspections, 15 planes were found to need fuel line repairs, but the fleet was quickly returned to service once the necessary repairs were completed.
Looking ahead, the A350 will continue to play a key role in Cathay Pacific’s European operations, with most flights being operated by A350-900s, though some cities will still see Boeing 777-300ERs. The airline plans its operations through the end of November 2025 as follows:
London Heathrow (LHR)
London remains Cathay Pacific’s primary European destination. In 2025, Cathay plans to operate 33 flights with the A350-1000, 1,248 flights with the A350-900, and 386 flights with the Boeing 777-300ER. The airline will continue its daily service to London, adding a sixth flight on Fridays from April to October 2025.
In January 2025, the schedule will include three daily A350 flights and two 777 flights, with A350-900s increasing throughout the year. The A350-1000 will serve London only until March 2025, with the 777-300ERs operating until October 2025, after which all flights will be flown by the A350-900.
Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)
Cathay will serve Amsterdam with 334 flights in 2025, utilizing both the A350-1000 and A350-900. The A350-1000 will serve the route until March 2025, after which the A350-900 will take over for the remainder of the year.
Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
Paris will receive 334 flights in 2025, all operated by the A350-900. Cathay Pacific will offer a daily service from Hong Kong to Paris, with only occasional gaps in the schedule.
Frankfurt Am Main Airport (FRA)
Cathay plans 333 flights to Frankfurt in 2025, with 245 operated by A350-900s. Boeing 777-300ERs will operate on the Frankfurt route until March 2025. After March 29, 2025, all Frankfurt flights will be operated by A350-900s.
Zurich Airport (ZRH)
Zurich will be served 332 times in 2025, with all flights operated by the A350-900. Cathay will offer one daily flight from Hong Kong to Zurich throughout the year.
Manchester Airport (MAN)
Manchester will receive 322 flights in 2025, all operated by the A350-900. The schedule will fluctuate throughout the year, but from August to October, Cathay will offer daily service.
Milan Malpensa International Airport (MXP)
Milan will receive 306 flights in 2025, with Boeing 777-300ERs serving the route until March 2025. After that, A350-900s will take over, and the route will become a daily service.
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD)
Madrid will receive 191 flights in 2025, all operated by the A350-900. The service will run consistently throughout the year, with flights on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Routes to Barcelona, Brussels, and Munich
Barcelona, Brussels, and Munich are not scheduled for year-round service. However, Cathay will operate seasonal services to these cities in 2025:
- Barcelona: 106 flights, starting on March 30, 2025, with a four-day per week schedule (Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday) until October 24, 2025.
- Brussels: 48 flights, starting on August 2, 2025, with a four-day per week schedule (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) until October 23, 2025.
- Munich: 76 flights, starting on June 15, 2025, with a four-day per week schedule (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) until October 24, 2025.
Fleet and Service Features
Cathay Pacific’s A350-900s are equipped with Safran Cirrus III seats in business class, arranged in a 1-2-1 reverse-herringbone pattern, with each seat converting into a 75″ flatbed. Premium economy features Collins Aerospace MiQ seats in a 2-4-2 configuration, while economy offers Collins Aerospace Pinnacle seats in a 3-3-3 layout.
The Boeing 777-300ERs used by Cathay feature three configurations, with the 77A being the only one offering a first-class cabin. Business class cabins have Safran Cirrus II lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 reverse-herringbone arrangement, and premium economy offers wider seats with better lumbar support in a 2-4-2 configuration.
| A350-900 | A350-1000 | Boeing 777-300ER (77A) | Boeing 777-300ER (77J) | Boeing 777-300ER (77K) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Seats | 38 Business, 28 Premium Economy, 214 Economy | 46 Business, 32 Premium Economy, 256 Economy | 6 First, 53 Business, 34 Premium Economy, 201 Economy | 45 Business, 48 Premium Economy, 268 Economy | 40 Business, 32 Premium Economy, 296 Economy |
| First Class Seat Pitch | NA | NA | 81″ lie-flat | NA | NA |
| First Class Seat Width | NA | NA | 36″ | NA | NA |
| Business Class Seat Pitch | 75″ lie-flat | 75″ lie-flat | 79″ lie-flat | 79″ lie-flat | 79″ lie-flat |
| Business Class Seat Width | 20.2″ | 20.2″ | 20″ | 20″ | 20″ |
| Premium Economy Seat Pitch | 40″ | 40″ | 40″ | 40″ | 40″ |
| Premium Economy Seat Width | 18.5″ | 18.5″ | 19.5″ | 19.5″ | 19.5″ |
| EconomySeat Pitch | 32″ | 32″ | Most seats at 32″ reduced to 31″ for HJK seats in rows 40 to 46 | 32″ (no confirmation if any areas are reduced to 31″ like the 77A and 77K) | Most seats at 32″ reduced to 31″ for ABC seats in rows 43 to 57 |
| Economy Seat Width | 18″ | 18″ | 17.2″ | 17.2″ | 17.2″ |
Looking Ahead to 2025
Cathay Pacific will continue to grow its European presence in 2025, with 11 cities in Europe benefiting from direct services to Hong Kong. The A350-900s will dominate the European routes, though some cities like Amsterdam and London will see a limited number of A350-1000 flights. The Boeing 777-300ER will continue to serve some cities like London, Frankfurt, and Milan but will see reduced use as A350-900s take over the bulk of these services later in the year.