Cathay Pacific (CX) has announced a significant expansion of its flight schedule to Australia and New Zealand in 2026, increasing capacity across key Oceania markets by approximately 12 percent, reported Simple Flying, which prepared the report with the help of data by Cirium.
The expansion of Cathay, which recently introduced its Lettuce Leaf Sandwich livery, will see additional frequencies from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to major Australian airports such as Sydney (SYD), Brisbane (BNE), Perth (PER), and Melbourne (MEL), as well as enhanced service to Auckland (AKL) and Christchurch (CHC) in New Zealand.
Cathay’s Expanded Australia Services Schedule Details
Cathay Pacific’s increased services across Australia and New Zealand in 2026 represent a calibrated response to both demand and competitive pressure in the Asia-Pacific market. Here’s a breakdown of its Australia-based expansion:
| Destination (IATA) | Q1 2026 Departures | Avg Daily Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide (ADL) | 37 | ~0.4 | New route; not served in Q1 2025 |
| Sydney (SYD) | 351 | ~4.0 | Highest-frequency route; Qantas hub |
| Melbourne (MEL) | 265 | ~3.0 | High-frequency service; Qantas hub |
| Perth (PER) | 172 | ~2.0 | Stable double-daily average |
| Brisbane (BNE) | 168 | ~2.0 | Consistent two flights per day |
| Cairns (CNS) | 26 | <1.0 | Lowest frequency; reduced from 38 in Q1 2025 |
Which Aircraft is Cathay set to Operate on These Australian Routes?
According to FlightRoutes, Cathay’s flights to Perth are operated on the Airbus A350-900 (the aircraft type that it deploys on its flights to Adelaide as well) and Boeing 777-300ER, while the flights to Cairns are conducted on the Airbus A330-300. On all these routes, Cathay is the sole carrier offering non-stop flights.
On its Hong Kong-Sydney route, however, the carrier faces competition from two other carriers- Qantas and Hong Kong Airlines – both of whom operate the Airbus A330-300 on the route.
Cathay’s Expanded New Zealand Services
Seasonal frequency growing from seven to 11 weekly between December 2025 and March 2026.
| Metric | Auckland (AKL) | Christchurch (CHC) |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 2025 Departures | 88 | 47 |
| Q1 2026 Departures | 136 | 46 |
| Change in Departures | +54.5% | −2.1% |
| Seat Capacity Change | +22.2% | +2.1% |
| Seat Capacity Detail | — | 15,050 → 15,364 |
| Network Insight | Strong frequency-led growth | Capacity up via larger aircraft |
On its services to New Zealand, Cathay deploys the Airbus A350: the aircraft type that is deployed on some of the longest non-stop flights in the world:
Cathay competes with Air New Zealand, which deploys the Boeing 787 on its Auckland services.
Here’s a look at the carrier’s Auckland services:
| CX198 | CX188 | CX113 | CX199 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | Auckland (AKL) | Auckland (AKL) | Hong Kong (HKG) | Hong Kong (HKG) |
| Destination | Hong Kong (HKG) | Hong Kong (HKG) | Auckland (AKL) | Auckland (AKL) |
| Departure | 14:55 | 08:15 | 21:35 | 14:55 |
| Arrival | 21:15 | 14:35 | 13:25 (+1) | 06:45 (+1) |
| Days of Operation | Daily | Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat | Daily | Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun |
| Validity | — | 2 Dec 2025 – 28 Mar 2026 | — | 1 Dec 2025 – 28 Mar 2026 |
Cathay Pacific Regional General Manager for the Southwest Pacific, Frosti Lau, said the additional Auckland services were being introduced in response to strong demand. He added that the increased frequency would give customers more travel options while strengthening Cathay’s connectivity between New Zealand, Hong Kong and destinations across its wider global network.
The expansion also comes as the Cathay Group reaches a milestone of serving 100 destinations, with the airline continuing to develop its New Zealand network and connections through its Hong Kong hub.
Cathay Pacific will operate flight CX126 from Christchurch (CHC) to Hong Kong (HKG) with a 14:20 departure and 20:55 arrival, offering three weekly services on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays during November 2025 and March 2026, increasing to four weekly flights on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays between December 2025 and February 2026.
The return service, flight CX123, departs Hong Kong at 20:40 and arrives in Christchurch at 12:50 the following day, operating three times weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays in November 2025 and March 2026, before ramping up to four weekly frequencies on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays during the peak December 2025 to February 2026 period.
All in All
Cathay’s more frequent flights between Hong Kong and Oceania is set to benefit tourism and trade, increasing inbound visitor spend, while also improving belly cargo capacity, aiding exporters.
Auckland Airport Chief Customer Officer Scott Tasker also welcomed Cathay Pacific’s additional capacity during the peak summer period. He highlighted the airline’s importance to New Zealand’s tourism and trade links, noting that international visitors support accommodation, hospitality and other parts of the local economy.
Tasker also pointed to the additional cargo capacity provided by Cathay Pacific’s network through Hong Kong, which gives New Zealand exporters greater access to international markets.
The following table rounds up the increase in Cathay’s services to Oceania:
| Metric | Q1 2026 | Q1 2025 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total departures (HKG → Australia & New Zealand) | 1,201 | 1,070 | +12.2% |
| Total seats offered | 380,939 | — | +11.6% |
| Available seat miles (ASM) | 1,735,036,736 | — | +11.6% |
| Key route growth | Auckland (AKL): 7 → 11 weekly departures | — | — |
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