Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific posts first running cash in since 2019

Hong Kong provider Cathay Pacific on Wednesday reported its first annual running cash in since 2019 because it fights to go back to pre-pandemic flight capability.

The airline has struggled to meet up with regional opponents equivalent to Singapore Airways as town’s govt best started axing harsh pandemic curbs—together with necessary resort quarantine and strict checking out necessities—in the second one part of final 12 months.

“Cathay Pacific has skilled 3 difficult years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 2022 very a lot being a 12 months of 2 halves,” chairman Patrick Healy stated in a commentary pronouncing the consequences, relating to a “marked development” in efficiency later within the 12 months.

The corporate stated in its profits commentary Wednesday that it operated at one-third of pre-pandemic passenger flight capability in December however expects to achieve 70 % by way of the tip of 2023.

It reported an running cash in of HK$3.55 billion ($452 million) final 12 months, however suffered a loss resulting from shareholders of HK$6.5 billion, weighed down by way of losses incurred by way of its affiliate corporations.

Cathay confronted report losses in 2020 because the pandemic hit, and used to be dealt an additional blow final 12 months when Hong Kong tightened trip restrictions amid its worst-ever coronavirus outbreak.

It carried 2.8 million passengers final 12 months—just about 4 instances that of 2021—which introduced in $1.7 billion in earnings.

Ronald Lam, who took over as CEO in the beginning of 2023, stated Cathay will search to guide the marketplace for the “Larger Bay Space”, Beijing’s regional building blueprint for Hong Kong and surrounding southern Chinese language towns.

Remaining 12 months, the corporate used to be buoyed by way of robust shipment operations, which raked in $3.4 billion, running at two-thirds of pre-pandemic capability by way of the tip of the 12 months.

Capability demanding situations

Herman Tse, valuations supervisor at Ascend by way of Cirium consultancy, stated Cathay’s “main problem within the close to long term” is bobbing up with enough capability to perform flights.

However Tse stated the problem will ease as hiring speeds upward thrust, including that Cathay advantages from world call for for connectivity to China.

And Singapore-based unbiased aviation analyst Brendan Sobie informed AFP: “Cathay’s workforce seat capability can be above 50 % (pre-pandemic ranges) in April and can exceed 60 % by way of September.

“Within the present high-fare atmosphere this will have to be sufficient capability to go back to profitability.”

Remaining week, the airline gave away greater than 50,000 flights to Hong Kong from Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines as a part of the federal government’s “Hi Hong Kong” promotion marketing campaign for vacationers.

The corporate previous stated it used to be “very inspired by way of the enthusiastic reaction” to that promotion, with the development drawing lengthy on-line queues and tickets being snapped up inside hours.

Town’s airport in January noticed 2.1 million guests—a significant uptick when put next with previous months, however nonetheless best one-third of 2019 ranges.

Cathay’s flight attendants union in January started a work-to-rule labour motion after accusing the airline of placing a low precedence on “offering dependable and practicable operating stipulations” and aggressive pay.

The corporate stated on the time that many of the roster problems were resolved and that flight services and products would proceed as scheduled.

Hong Kong continues to stand main hurdles to retaking its position as a regional shipping hub, then again.

In January, round 20 regional Asian airways stated they had been not able to restart services and products within the town on account of shortages of floor dealing with personnel.

© 2023 AFP