Cathay Pacific, HK Express and Cathay Cargo report passenger surges and freight gains for December 2025 and full-year 2025

This piece reveals the key traffic figures released by the Cathay Group for December 2025 and the full year, highlighting trends in passenger demand and cargo movements that matter to logistics professionals.

Top-line results: passengers up, cargo steady

The Cathay Group closed 2025 with a notable rebound: the two passenger airlines, Cathay Pacific و HK Express, together carried more than 36 million passengers in 2025, a rise of about 27% year-on-year. December alone saw double-digit passenger growth, and the Group set a new single-day record of over 126,000 passengers on 3 January 2026. On the cargo side, Cathay Cargo moved over 1.6 million tonnes in 2025, up more than 9% from 2024, with particular strength in perishables and machinery lanes.

Quick metrics at a glance

Drivers behind passenger growth

The passenger uplift was driven by a blend of leisure surges and practical travel flows. In early December, inbound traffic to Hong Kong increased as visitors reconnected with family and students returned from long-haul markets such as North America, Oceania and the UK. The holiday peak then broadened inbound demand from Northeast Asia, Thailand and India, while outbound leisure travel flourished across Northeast and Southeast Asia.

• Network expansion and capacity: A roughly 25% expansion in ASKs allowed more seats to meet demand.
• Seasonal peaks: Year-end holidays and advance Lunar New Year bookings pushed load factors higher.
• Regional flows: Chinese Mainland and intra-Asia leisure markets were especially prominent.

What this means for passenger logistics

Higher passenger volumes translate into increased demand for airport services, ground handling, and ancillary logistics like baggage distribution, catering, and ramp operations. When an airline expands ASKs quickly, service providers must scale staff and equipment to avoid bottlenecks—no one wants travel to be a three-ring circus at the terminal.

Cargo performance: perishables and machinery lead the way

Cathay Cargo reported solid tonnage growth despite a slight month-on-month dip heading into the festive lull. Growth was propelled by the Cathay Fresh product and the Air-Land Fresh Lane that moved seasonal produce from the Americas into the Greater Bay Area, plus strong perishables flows from Oceania. Machinery and industrial cargo within Northeast Asia also contributed to the tonnage increase through Cathay Expert solutions.

Key cargo lanes and specialties

• Perishables: Americas → Greater Bay Area; Oceania → Hong Kong (cold-chain focus)
• Machinery: Intra-Asia industrial lanes, supported by time-sensitive handling
• Special services: Cathay Fresh and Cathay Expert—tailored handling and air-land integration

Operational notes on cargo handling

Even with an overall gain, December registered a 3% month-on-month drop in tonnage as the season tapered off. That’s par for the course when households and businesses slow down for the holidays. Still, consistent AFTK growth indicates improved utilization and a better alignment of aircraft belly and freighter capacity.

Safety and reputation: credentials matter

Operational safety credentials were also highlighted, with Cathay named among the top two safest full-service airlines for 2026 by Airline Ratings, and HK Express recognized as the world’s safest low-cost airline for the second consecutive year. For logistics partners and shippers, these accolades offer reassurance: a reputation for safety often correlates with predictable, reliable service delivery.

Logistics implications: capacity, cold chain and contingency planning

What does this mean for freight forwarders, shippers and supply chain planners? In short: plan ahead. A rebound in passenger flights brings more belly capacity, which can lower spot freight rates and make routing more flexible. Conversely, peak-season congestion and priority given to premium perishables can create pinch points for general cargo. The net effect is a mixed bag that rewards proactive planning and diversified routing.

Looking ahead into 2026

Advance bookings for Lunar New Year are accelerating, and demand is expected to pick up ahead of major events in the region and the Easter leisure peak. Cathay’s planned 80th anniversary promotions could slightly alter travel patterns as marketing campaigns stimulate specific routes.

• Expect early-year softness followed by a surge pre-Lunar New Year.
• Monitor perishables lanes—timely bookings will be critical.
• Watch capacity shifts: increased seats can ease freight pressure but watch seasonal priorities.

In short, these results are regionally significant and offer practical signals for logistics planning—capacity increases and product strengths at Cathay will influence routing, cold-chain options, and seasonal pricing for shippers focusing on Asia-Pacific corridors. Start planning your next delivery and secure your cargo with GetTransport.com. On GetTransport.com, you can order your cargo transportation at the best prices globally at reasonable prices, choosing from a range of services including office and home moves, large-item transport, vehicle and bulky-goods shipments; this empowers users to compare options and avoid overpaying. Get the best offers GetTransport.com.com.com

Highlights: the Cathay Group’s 2025 performance spotlights robust passenger recovery, meaningful cargo gains—especially in perishables and machinery—and strong safety recognition for both full-service and low-cost operations. However, even the most detailed reports or glowing reviews can’t replace firsthand experience: testing routes, service levels and timelines with actual shipments remains the surest way to know what works. On GetTransport.com, you can arrange global cargo transportation at competitive prices, benefiting from transparency, convenience and a wide choice of logistics options. Book your Ride at GetTransport.com.com.com

To wrap up, Cathay’s December and full-year 2025 data underline a recovery that matters for airlines and logistics operators alike: higher passenger volumes expand belly capacity, while cargo growth—driven by perishables and machinery—keeps demand for specialized handling intense. For shippers, freight forwarders and couriers, the key takeaways are to secure bookings early during peaks, consider diversified routing (belly + freighter), and prioritize cold-chain and time-sensitive options when needed. In a world where shipment windows and delivery promises define reputation, platforms like GetTransport.com simplify transport planning—offering reliable, cost-effective solutions for cargo, freight, shipment and delivery needs across international and domestic lanes. Whether you’re arranging container loads, pallets, bulky items, housemoves, or small parcels, the right mix of transparency and service choice helps keep your forwarding, dispatch and haulage operations running smoothly and reliably.