Cathay Pacific issues warning over trade tariffs ‘uncertainty’

Trade tariffs are “creating uncertainties” for Cathay Pacific, the Hong Kong carrier warned today (Wednesday).

Without specifically mentioning the global taxes being imposed by US president Donald Trump, the airline’s chief customer and commercial officer issued a note of caution.

Lavinia Lau said: “The latest developments on trade tariffs are creating uncertainties that may cause disruptions to our cargo business, changes in travel demand, increased costs and pressure on supply chains, among other impacts. 

“We are taking proactive steps to put ourselves in the best possible position in facing and mitigating these external forces as we remain aligned, agile and responsive in our approach.”

She revealed that March was a “quieter month” for travel, despite year-on-year passenger carryings rising by almost 20%.

Lay added: “While we saw softer demand for leisure travel in March due to the absence of long-weekend holidays in Hong Kong, demand for our premium cabins remained robust, driven by various mega-events and exhibitions in the city such as the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and Art Basel Hong Kong.

“The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens also generated strong inbound demand to our home city, especially on many of our long-haul routes. 

“Turning to April and beyond, there has been healthy demand over the Easter holiday. 

“In addition, we are delighted to have recently announced that Cathay Pacific will be one of the very few airlines to offer both 100% seatback inflight entertainment and 100% high-speed inflight Wi-Fi connectivity across its fleet from August 2025.”