CX Pax Traffic Increases by 21.8% in December 2025, Achieving 26.5% Year-Over-Year Growth for the Year
Passenger Growth: Cathay Pacific reported a 21.8% increase in passengers carried in December 2025 compared to December 2024, totaling 2.74 million, with a full-year increase of 26.5%.
Record Passenger Numbers: On December 27, 2025, Cathay Pacific and HK Express set a record by carrying over 125,000 passengers in a single day, which was surpassed shortly after with over 126,000 passengers on January 3, 2026.
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Midday Update: HSI Rises 197 Points to 26,578; HSTI Gains 53 Points to 5,162; SHK PPT Surges Over 6%; SHK PPT, CK ASSET, TECHTRONIC IND, and CATHAY PAC AIR Reach New Peaks
Market Performance: The HSI rose by 197 points (0.7%) to 26,578, while the HSTI and HSCEI also saw gains, closing at 5,162 and 8,849 respectively.
Active Heavyweights: Notable stocks included Tencent (+2.8%), Meituan (+2.1%), and Alibaba (+1.0%), with significant short selling activity reported for each.
Constituents on the Move: SHK PPT surged by 6.8% to a new high, along with Wuxi Bio (+4.2%) and Trip.com (+3.2%), indicating strong performance among certain constituents.
Short Selling Data: Various stocks experienced high short selling ratios, with CCB and Xiaomi showing declines, while Cathay Pacific also hit a new high with a 2.1% increase.
Cathay Pacific and HK Express Transport Over 3.3 Million Passengers Last Month, Marking an 11% Year-Over-Year Increase
Passenger Growth: Cathay Pacific and HK Express carried over 3.3 million passengers in January, reflecting an 11% year-over-year increase.
Cargo Performance: Cathay Cargo transported more than 130,000 tonnes of cargo in January, achieving a 5% year-over-year growth.
Record Passenger Day: On February 14, 2026, Cathay Pacific set a new single-day passenger record, exceeding 100,000 passengers for the first time.
Short Selling Data: As of February 24, 2026, Cathay Pacific's short selling amounted to $14.02 million, with a ratio of 4.595%.
Patrick Healy: EGM's Approval of Qatar Airways' Stake Buyback Demonstrates Confidence in CX Outlook
Share Buyback Approval: At the EGM of Cathay Pacific Air, 99.9968% of shareholders approved a resolution to repurchase shares held by Qatar Airways.
Chairman's Remarks: Chair Patrick Healy expressed satisfaction with the buyback approval, highlighting it as a sign of confidence in the company's long-term prospects and thanked Qatar Airways, Swire Pacific, and Air China for their support.
CX Special Transportation Solutions Represent 25-33% of Total Freight Volume; Six New Freighters Acquired
Freight Volume Contribution: Cathay Pacific Air's special transportation solutions, including medical cold chain and live animal transport, accounted for 25-33% of its overall freight volume.
Growth in Live Animal Transport: The company's live animal cargo volume increased by 4.3% last year, largely due to demand from horse racing and collaborations with the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
New Aircraft Orders: Cathay Pacific Air has ordered six new-generation Airbus A350-F freighters, with deliveries set to begin in 2028.
Market Activity: The company's stock experienced a slight decline of 0.694%, with short selling activity reported at $3.67 million and a ratio of 6.410%.
Cathay Pacific's 2026 Employee Profit Sharing Plan Payout Increases Year Over Year
Employee Profit-Sharing Plan: Cathay Pacific's CEO Ronald Lam announced a slight year-on-year growth in the employee profit-sharing plan for this year, reflecting the company's stable financial performance.
Customer Satisfaction Impact: The increase in profit-sharing is attributed to employees' efforts in improving the Customer Net Promoter Score (cNPS) to a record high of 34.8, which resulted in a 7% multiplier increase to the profit-sharing pool.
Citi Lowers CATHAY PAC AIR (00293.HK) Rating to Sell and Sets Target Price at $11.2
Citi Research Outlook: Citi Research predicts a low single-digit year-over-year decline or flat revenue per available seat kilometer (RASK) for airlines in the Asia-Pacific region in the first half of 2026.
CATHAY PAC AIR Downgrade: CATHAY PAC AIR's stock was downgraded from Neutral to Sell due to a 19% increase in share price over the past year, with a revised target price of $11.2.
Passenger Yield Forecast: The broker anticipates an 11% decline in CATHAY PAC AIR's passenger yield in 2026, influenced by a higher proportion of transit passengers and uncertainties in China's outbound travel.
Earnings Forecast Adjustment: Citi Research's earnings forecast for CATHAY PAC AIR in 2026 is projected to be 17% lower than the market consensus.
Midday Update: HSI Rises 197 Points to 26,578; HSTI Gains 53 Points to 5,162; SHK PPT Surges Over 6%; SHK PPT, CK ASSET, TECHTRONIC IND, and CATHAY PAC AIR Reach New Peaks
Market Performance: The HSI rose by 197 points (0.7%) to 26,578, while the HSTI and HSCEI also saw gains, closing at 5,162 and 8,849 respectively.
Active Heavyweights: Notable stocks included Tencent (+2.8%), Meituan (+2.1%), and Alibaba (+1.0%), with significant short selling activity reported for each.
Constituents on the Move: SHK PPT surged by 6.8% to a new high, along with Wuxi Bio (+4.2%) and Trip.com (+3.2%), indicating strong performance among certain constituents.
Short Selling Data: Various stocks experienced high short selling ratios, with CCB and Xiaomi showing declines, while Cathay Pacific also hit a new high with a 2.1% increase.
Cathay Pacific and HK Express Transport Over 3.3 Million Passengers Last Month, Marking an 11% Year-Over-Year Increase
Passenger Growth: Cathay Pacific and HK Express carried over 3.3 million passengers in January, reflecting an 11% year-over-year increase.
Cargo Performance: Cathay Cargo transported more than 130,000 tonnes of cargo in January, achieving a 5% year-over-year growth.
Record Passenger Day: On February 14, 2026, Cathay Pacific set a new single-day passenger record, exceeding 100,000 passengers for the first time.
Short Selling Data: As of February 24, 2026, Cathay Pacific's short selling amounted to $14.02 million, with a ratio of 4.595%.
Patrick Healy: EGM's Approval of Qatar Airways' Stake Buyback Demonstrates Confidence in CX Outlook
Share Buyback Approval: At the EGM of Cathay Pacific Air, 99.9968% of shareholders approved a resolution to repurchase shares held by Qatar Airways.
Chairman's Remarks: Chair Patrick Healy expressed satisfaction with the buyback approval, highlighting it as a sign of confidence in the company's long-term prospects and thanked Qatar Airways, Swire Pacific, and Air China for their support.
CX Special Transportation Solutions Represent 25-33% of Total Freight Volume; Six New Freighters Acquired
Freight Volume Contribution: Cathay Pacific Air's special transportation solutions, including medical cold chain and live animal transport, accounted for 25-33% of its overall freight volume.
Growth in Live Animal Transport: The company's live animal cargo volume increased by 4.3% last year, largely due to demand from horse racing and collaborations with the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
New Aircraft Orders: Cathay Pacific Air has ordered six new-generation Airbus A350-F freighters, with deliveries set to begin in 2028.
Market Activity: The company's stock experienced a slight decline of 0.694%, with short selling activity reported at $3.67 million and a ratio of 6.410%.
Cathay Pacific's 2026 Employee Profit Sharing Plan Payout Increases Year Over Year
Employee Profit-Sharing Plan: Cathay Pacific's CEO Ronald Lam announced a slight year-on-year growth in the employee profit-sharing plan for this year, reflecting the company's stable financial performance.
Customer Satisfaction Impact: The increase in profit-sharing is attributed to employees' efforts in improving the Customer Net Promoter Score (cNPS) to a record high of 34.8, which resulted in a 7% multiplier increase to the profit-sharing pool.
Citi Lowers CATHAY PAC AIR (00293.HK) Rating to Sell and Sets Target Price at $11.2
Citi Research Outlook: Citi Research predicts a low single-digit year-over-year decline or flat revenue per available seat kilometer (RASK) for airlines in the Asia-Pacific region in the first half of 2026.
CATHAY PAC AIR Downgrade: CATHAY PAC AIR's stock was downgraded from Neutral to Sell due to a 19% increase in share price over the past year, with a revised target price of $11.2.
Passenger Yield Forecast: The broker anticipates an 11% decline in CATHAY PAC AIR's passenger yield in 2026, influenced by a higher proportion of transit passengers and uncertainties in China's outbound travel.
Earnings Forecast Adjustment: Citi Research's earnings forecast for CATHAY PAC AIR in 2026 is projected to be 17% lower than the market consensus.
