Cathay Pacific Boeing 747 fleet history
Cathay Pacific flew 747s for nearly four decades, ending passenger 747-400 service in October 2016, and today operates 20 747 freighters: 14 747-8Fs and 6 747-400ERFs.
Cathay Pacific, the Hong Kong carrier, operated the 747 in its passenger fleet from 1979 until October 2016 and became one of the largest operators of the aircraft. Today it flies 747s purely as freighters.
Cathay began with 747-200s in 1979 and added 747-300s before building a large 747-400 passenger fleet on Asia-Pacific and long-haul routes.
Its freight operation is one of the world’s biggest: 20 Boeing 747s — 14 × 747-8F and 6 × 747-400ERF — plus committed future 747-8Fs. Cathay retired its last seven classic 747-200F “freighters” by 2012.
Passenger 747-400 service ended on 1 October 2016 with flights CX542 and CX543 between Hong Kong and Haneda, followed by the CX8747 farewell flyover — nearly four decades after the first Cathay 747 arrived.
| Model | Notes |
|---|---|
| 747-200 | Passenger fleet from 1979 |
| 747-300 | Later classic, stretched upper deck |
| 747-400 | Long-haul passenger from 1989 |
| 747-400F / -400ERF / -8F | Cargo fleet, still in service |
Cathay’s cargo arm is today the world’s largest 747-8F customer, keeping the Queen of the Skies at the heart of its freighter network.
Sources
- Cathay Cargo next-generation freighter order — Cathay Cargo
- Cathay Pacific tribute to the 747-400 — Cathay Pacific
- Cathay Pacific places order for new aircraft — Swire Pacific
Sources
Facts on this page are checked against the primary and institutional references below.
- Cathay Cargo next-generation freighter order — Cathay Cargo
- Cathay Pacific tribute to the 747-400 — Cathay Pacific
- Cathay Pacific places order for new aircraft — Swire Pacific
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