Cathay Cargo, with its strong freighter fleet and belly-hold network, plays a vital role in linking India’s growing export sectors to global markets. Leveraging Hong Kong as a strategic hub and the GBA’s seamless intermodal links, it delivers speed, reliability, and specialised solutions. Cathay Cargo remains a partner in powering the nation’s air cargo growth.
Can you outline your current freighter network or belly–hold capacity?
Cathay Cargo operates a fleet comprising 20 Boeing 747Fs, including six Boeing 747-400ERFs (Extended Range Freighters) and 14 Boeing 747-8Fs. In addition to its dedicated freighters, Cathay Cargo leverages the belly space of the Cathay Pacific’s passenger aircraft, enhancing cargo capacity to efficiently ferry a diverse range of goods across our extensive global network. Looking to the future, Cathay Cargo has placed an order for six next-generation Airbus A350 wide-body freighters, with the right to acquire an additional 20. Currently, we operate 13 weekly freighters between Hong Kong and
Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, in addition to utilising belly space on Cathay Pacific’s passenger flights from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai.
Which commodities are growing fastest (e.g. pharmaceuticals, perishables, electronics, automotive parts)?
From an Indian export perspective, electronics and perishables (mostly from Mumbai and Chennai) are experiencing rapid growth. Meanwhile, automobiles including electric vehicles, and pharmaceuticals are steadily increasing. Our top solutions by tonnage include Cathay Secure for all valuables and vulnerable items (e.g. iPhones), Dangerous Goods, Fresh, Pharma, Expert (Cars, engines), Courier, and Live Animals, in that order.
What makes you one of the world’s greatest service brands, and can you share more about the different solutions you offer?
Cathay Cargo has developed a suite of service options comprising nine specialist solutions, each tailored with distinct procedures, safety protocols, and handling methods. This suite covers a range of cargo needs, from temperature-sensitive shipments and live animals to high-value items and urgent deliveries, ensuring every shipment receives the specialised care it requires. Cathay Cargo is one of the several carriers that accepts all nine classes of DGs with our Cathay Dangerous Goods solution, which means customers benefit from a single, trusted partner capable of handling the spectrum of HAZMAT — flammable liquids, explosive substances, radioactive materials, and environmentally hazardous goods. By adhering to global regulations and enhancing our operational standards, we transform complexity into a competitive advantage to offer customers reliable and compliant solutions.
Cathay Cargo offers a range of fire containment bags and fire-resistant containers for lithium-ion batteries. Our built-up system increases space efficiency by 50 per cent for larger shipments and safely accommodates larger battery sizes, exceeding typical containment capabilities.
Besides, Cathay Cargo Terminal uses AI to detect undeclared DGs concealed along with general cargo. This innovative approach enhances detection accuracy, while minimising processing delays, helping prevent safety risks before shipment. Both Cathay Cargo and the Cathay Cargo Terminal in Hong Kong hold the full set of IATA Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certifications, including CEIV Fresh, CEIV Pharma, CEIV Live Animals, and CEIV Lithium Batteries, demonstrating Cathay Cargo’s expertise in handling special cargo.
Can you tell us more about The Greater Bay Area and seamless intermodal connectivity?
The Greater Bay Area (GBA) is Cathay Cargo’s extended home hub, and the manufacturing heart of the Chinese Mainland, playing host to global players in e-commerce, high-tech, and consumer electronics. Our innovative intermodal services between Hong Kong International Airport and Cathay Cargo Terminal in Dongguan exemplify Hong Kong’s strategic role as a gateway linking the Chinese Mainland to the world. By pioneering upstream cargo acceptance in Dongguan for exports and now offering direct air-sea transport for inbound shipments, Cathay Cargo enhances efficiency and connectivity in the GBA.
Cathay Cargo offers daily freighter flights to Guangzhou and trucking solutions to and across the GBA from our hub at HKIA, either through a scheduled service or on an ad hoc basis. Cathay Cargo pioneers in intermodal perishables imports into the GBA through the Air-Land Fresh Lane. Perishable shipments can travel from overseas via HKIA to a temperature-controlled inspection facility in Zhuhai, then onwards across the rest of the GBA with a transshipment certificate using chilled trucks, all under the same air waybill, enabling expedited, seamless cool-chain transit from origin to destination. The Air-Land Fresh Lane initiative is a differentiator for perishables moving into GBA markets, including India-origin cargo transiting via HKIA.
How do you help Indian businesses in their growth story?
Cathay Cargo’s pivotal focus lanes from India are to China, Northeast Asia, and Southwest Pacific. With the expanding capacity from our Hong Kong hub, the scheduling flexibility provided by the Three-runway system, and our strengthened intermodal links into the GBA, we see strong opportunities for India’s customers. The country’s fast-growing manufacturing sector, driven by the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, is fuelling demand for robust logistics and connectivity to achieve the 10 MMT air cargo target by 2030.
