Anand Yedery, Regional Head of Customer Travel and Lifestyle – South Asia, Middle East, and Africa at Cathay Pacific, shares insights into the airline’s growth trajectory, innovative inflight offerings, expanding network in India, and its commitment to seamless connectivity.
As Hong Kong’s homegrown airline, Cathay Pacific plays a pivotal role in solidifying the city’s status as a global aviation hub, connecting Hong Kong, mainland China, and the world. Currently, the airline operates 35 weekly return flights across four Indian cities: Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, and Mumbai.
Elevating Travel and Connectivity in 2024
2024 has been a standout year for Cathay Pacific, marked by innovations that redefine the inflight experience. Notably, the Aria Suite, an all-new business class cabin on the Boeing 777-300ER, offers unmatched comfort, privacy, and space. Additionally, the new Premium Economy cabin on retrofitted Boeing 777-300ERs sets a new standard with enhanced seating, amenities, and 4K ultra-HD screens with Bluetooth streaming, elevating the mid-tier travel experience.
Cathay Pacific also focused on expanding its network and enhancing services in 2024, solidifying its position as a leader in global connectivity. Anand says, “For the Indian market, the resumption of direct flights from Chennai to Hong Kong after a four-year hiatus has been a major milestone, catering to the resurgence of leisure, business, and student travel. In addition, the introduction of the Premium Economy cabin on the Chennai-Hong Kong route marks a key enhancement in Cathay Pacific’s offering, delivering greater comfort and convenience for travellers.”
Unmatched and Award-Winning Experiences
In addition to its Aria Suite and Premium Economy seating, Cathay Pacific’s award-winning inflight entertainment system and diverse dining options further set it apart. The airline’s focus on offering a broad selection of high-quality entertainment and curated culinary experiences, combined with free inflight Wi-Fi for business class travellers and Diamond members, enhances the overall journey, ensuring that passengers are consistently satisfied both in the air and on the ground.
Cathay Pacific has remarkably risen to fifth place in the prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards and has been recognised with three prestigious awards at TheDesignAir Awards 2024, including Design Airline of the Year, Asia, with an impressive overall Design Score of 81.9. The airline won Best New Business Class for its Aria Suite and Best New Premium Economy, both introduced in October 2024 on its retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
Seamless Gateway to Greater Bay Area
Indian travellers can benefit from Cathay Pacific’s strategic focus on the Greater Bay Area (GBA), which significantly improves connectivity and provides easy access to key destinations across the region.
With seamless intermodal connections via ferry and coach from Hong Kong International Airport’s SkyPier Terminal, the airline offers a hassle-free and efficient travel experience. Anand adds, “Cathay Pacific also unveiled its first-ever lounge outside of an airport to guests at the Shekou Cruise Home Port in Shenzhen. Cathay Pacific customers can now enjoy effortless transfer using its codeshare ferry services to go directly from the Shekou Cruise Home Port to the SkyPier Terminal at Hong Kong International Airport.”
Pazhou Ferry Terminal, Guangzhou, is the top-selling intermodal destination due to its proximity to Canton Exhibition Hall. It serves as a great alternative to the limited flight connections into Guangzhou from India. On this, Anand shares, “In 2024, we witnessed a huge demand from Indian travellers to Guangzhou and noticed an uptick in Indian customers opting for the Air+Sea codeshare options provided through Cathay Pacific.”
India: Route Expansion and New Offers in 2025
Cathay Pacific is set to strengthen its foothold in India with the launch of new routes, enhanced services, and exclusive offers for 2025. A key highlight is the introduction of non-stop passenger service to Hyderabad, commencing March 30, 2025. Operated by Airbus A330-300 aircraft, the service will initially run three times a week, increasing to five times a week by September 2025. This expansion aims to meet the rising demand for both business and leisure travel, with a special focus on the growing student travel market.
Additionally, Cathay Pacific has unveiled a Premium Economy cabin on its Chennai-Hong Kong flights, operated by the state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900. The aircraft features Business, Premium Economy, and Economy cabins, catering to the diverse preferences of travellers. “Chennai is a key destination for us, and our focus is on delivering unparalleled service and travel experiences. Travellers’ needs have evolved over time. Previously, there wasn’t an option between Business and Economy classes. With the introduction of our Premium Economy cabin, customers can now enjoy extra comfort and personalised services, particularly on medium- and long-haul flights,” says Anand.
To further enhance connectivity, the airline increased its Chennai-Hong Kong route frequency to four weekly flights on January 2, 2025, with plans to expand to five weekly flights from March 2 to March 30, 2025.
To support student travellers, Cathay Pacific has launched exclusive discounts for students flying from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai, with bookings open until March 31, 2025. Students can avail themselves of a 10 per cent discount on economy class tickets to destinations such as Taiwan, the Philippines, China, Australia, and New Zealand. Additionally, they benefit from a special checked baggage allowance of up to 23 kg for travel to the United States, Canada, or other destinations, depending on fare types—Essential and Flex.
“These offers reflect our commitment to catering to the evolving needs of student travellers,” adds Anand.
With these strategic initiatives, Cathay Pacific continues to solidify its position as a preferred airline for Indian travellers, delivering enhanced connectivity, upgraded services, and tailored travel solutions.
