Cathay Pacific Airways posted a 9.5 percent rise in full-year profit on Wednesday driven by a strong passenger traffic recovery and robust ⁠cargo demand and said it planned to lift capacity this year despite geopolitical volatility.

Net profit at Hong Kong's flagship airline rose to HK$10.83 billion for the year ended December 31, analysts' estimates of around HK$10.05 billion and topping the HK$9.89 billion recorded in 2024.

Cathay Chairman Patrick Healy said the ⁠airline expected to grow passenger capacity by around ⁠10 percent this year as it added frequencies and destinations to its network, which would also boost cargo capacity.

However, the ⁠airline faces headwinds from the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has disrupted global aviation operations, increased jet fuel costs and led some airlines to raise fares and boost fuel surcharges.

"The ⁠prevailing global geopolitical environment is volatile, causing unexpected shifts in passenger and cargo traffic flows as well as jet fuel prices," Healy said in a statement.

Revenue climbed 11.9 percent to HK$116.8 billion in 2025, driven by a 15.8 percent surge in passenger revenue as Cathay began expanding its long-haul network to North America ⁠and Europe.

The carrier flew 28.9 million passengers during the year, a 26.5 percent increase from 2024, achieving an 85.2 percent load factor.

This marked Cathay's third consecutive annual profit following three years of losses over the pandemic, during which it made heavy layoffs. (Reuters)



Edited by Tony Sabine