Cathay Cargo

Airline overview

Cathay Cargo is the cargo brand of the Cathay Pacific group, based at Hong Kong International Airport, which consistently ranks at the top of global air cargo throughput, and operates a dedicated freighter fleet alongside the group's passenger belly network.

Cathay Pacific was founded in 1946, starting with converted military aircraft flying Hong Kong to mainland routes, and has grown over eighty years into an international airline group based in Hong Kong. Cathay Cargo, the group's cargo business, currently operates 20 Boeing 747 freighters, 14 of them 747-8F and 6 747-400ERF extended-range aircraft, reaching more than forty points worldwide. Beyond dedicated freighters it also uses belly capacity on about 230 passenger aircraft across Cathay Pacific and HK Express, covering more than a hundred passenger points, giving a two-tier supply of freighter and belly capacity.

Hong Kong International Airport has long ranked first worldwide for air cargo throughput and is the key node for exports from South China and the mainland consolidated by sea-air transhipment. From the Hong Kong hub Cathay Cargo carries export cargo consolidated by truck, river barge and gateway transhipment on high-frequency freighters to Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Oceania. For Chinese shippers Cathay Cargo is a major trunk option for electronics, cross-border e-commerce parcels, perishable cold chain and high-value manufactured goods exported through Hong Kong.

The Cathay Cargo network combines dedicated freighter flights with passenger belly capacity. Freighters fly long-haul routes nonstop to intercontinental markets with fixed schedules and large capacity, suited to large, steady export volumes; belly flights cover denser intra-Asian points and second- and third-tier mainland cities with high frequency and a low minimum, suited to urgent shipments, e-commerce and small replenishments. The two connect at the Hong Kong hub, so mainland shippers can choose according to transit requirement and shipment size.

In China's export mix, electronics manufacturing, new energy products and cross-border e-commerce parcels from the Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta consistently take the largest share of air cargo volume. Through the two-tier structure of the Hong Kong hub and mainland points, Cathay Cargo distributes products from those industrial belts quickly to North American consumer markets, European industrial and retail markets and Southeast Asian supply chains, and is one of the main air channels for Chinese manufactured goods to world markets.

China contact

Cathay Cargo works with mainland shippers through the Cathay Pacific group's mainland cargo sales and ground service network, with main sales offices in core cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. Shippers who need the addresses, telephone numbers and opening hours of mainland offices should rely on the latest contact information published by Cathay Cargo.

No published direct China cargo sales contact applies to routine booking by small and medium shippers. Mainland shippers can contact its local agent in China, or use Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited as the agency window for capacity enquiries, booking, waybill issuance and tendering at Hong Kong airport. Drawing on long-standing relationships, we help shippers reach Cathay Cargo capacity and operations teams at the Hong Kong hub.

Aircraft types

Cathay Cargo's freighters are mainly Boeing 747s; it has also confirmed an order for the next-generation Airbus A350F and announced in 2026 the introduction of leased Airbus A330P2F converted freighters through Air Hong Kong to strengthen capacity on mainland China and Asian routes. The types are shown in the table.

The Boeing 747 freighter has a large nose cargo door and can carry overlong and oversized aircraft parts, vehicles and large machinery. Once in service the A350F will take over intercontinental long-haul work with lower fuel burn and greater payload efficiency, while the A330P2F focuses on Asian regional and short mainland China transit routes, increasing frequency for South China export express and e-commerce cargo.

In fleet terms Cathay Cargo is moving from the Boeing 747 to the new generation of Airbus freighters. Six A350F were ordered in 2023 and purchase rights for two more were exercised in May 2026, taking the order to eight with further options. The A350F is a new-generation widebody platform able to take standard ULDs on both main deck and lower deck, with materially better fuel and payload efficiency than the current 747 freighters, and will progressively take over trans-Pacific and trans-Eurasian long-haul work. The A330P2F announced in June 2026 is a regional supplement, strengthening short-haul capacity in mainland China and Asia ahead of large-scale deliveries of the new type.

On passenger belly capacity, the Cathay Pacific Boeing 777, Airbus A350 and A330 fleets and the HK Express narrowbodies all carry belly cargo alongside passengers. Widebody belly holds take standardised cargo and express, while narrowbody belly capacity covers high-frequency short routes from Hong Kong to the mainland and within Asia, so smaller shipments also get reliable space.

Airports served in China and schedules

Cathay Cargo's mainland China service has two parts: freighter points and passenger belly points. Freighter operations cover the core industrial belts of North, East, Central and Southwest China; belly points follow the Cathay Pacific passenger network and cover more second- and third-tier mainland cities.

Specific freighter schedules and belly acceptance windows at each mainland airport change with the season and demand, and no published fixed timetable is suitable for long-term commitments. Actual schedules change with the season and are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking. South China exports can also be trucked directly from Shenzhen, Dongguan and Guangzhou to Hong Kong airport for tendering, without loading at a mainland airport.

Looking at the industrial belts, Beijing and the North China points handle electronics, pharmaceuticals and high-value manufacturing from the Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan area; Shanghai Pudong, Ningbo, Hangzhou and Nanjing handle electronics, new energy equipment and cross-border e-commerce from the Yangtze River Delta; Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Chongqing and Chengdu handle manufacturing and high-value cargo that has moved inland; and Xiamen, Fuzhou, Wenzhou, Guangzhou and Haikou are close to electronics contract manufacturing and light industrial export chains. Cargo accepted at each point transits Hong Kong before distribution to destinations worldwide.

Manufacturers with concentrated volumes get steadier block space at mainland freighter points; e-commerce sellers and urgent shipments in smaller, frequent lots get more flexible tender through belly points and the South China truck services. Shippers choose the nearest mainland receiving point, or tender directly at Hong Kong airport, according to cargo location, lot size and transit time.

International air freight services from China

Cathay Cargo uses Hong Kong as its transit hub and distributes cargo originating in mainland China across major world economies through the HKG network. By region, the main countries and territories reachable from China on Cathay Cargo are as follows.

The trans-Pacific is the main channel for Chinese electronics and e-commerce exports; the trans-Eurasian channel carries high-end manufacturing and high-value products; Southeast Asia and South Asia serve regional supply chain transfers. The number of direct points in each region changes with the seasonal timetable, and the carrier's published schedule on the booking day applies.

To North America, freighter flights make a technical stop at Anchorage and distribute to gateway airports such as Los Angeles on the west coast and New York and Chicago in the east, carrying consumer electronics, e-commerce parcels and high-value industrial goods. To Europe, freighter flights serve major western and central European hubs covering the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Italy, for Chinese exports into European retail and industrial supply chains.

In Southeast Asia the main points are Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila and Jakarta, handling regional transfers of electronic components and cross-border e-commerce distribution. In South Asia the focus is Mumbai and Delhi, carrying China-India trade. The Middle East connection links Gulf re-export hubs, from which cargo can move on to Africa and Europe. Oceania covers Sydney, Melbourne and other main Australian cities, carrying Chinese perishables, e-commerce and manufactured goods.

Freight advantages

Hong Kong hub advantage. Hong Kong International Airport has long ranked first in the world for air cargo throughput, and the Cathay Cargo combination of freighters and belly capacity lets mainland shippers connect at one hub instead of making several flight changes.

Mainland collection channels. Export cargo from the Pearl River Delta manufacturing belt reaches Hong Kong airport by truck service and river barge, and with the mainland freighter and belly points this forms a collection network covering North, East, Central and Southwest China.

Cold chain and high-value handling. Cathay Cargo offers temperature control and priority handling for sensitive cargo such as perishables, pharmaceuticals and electronics, and the new A350F will further raise quality on long-haul cold chain and high-value shipments.

Sustainable capacity. Cathay Cargo works with partners such as DHL on sustainable aviation fuel, giving exporters with carbon disclosure obligations a lower-carbon option.

Transit efficiency. As a hub, Hong Kong airport has complete terminal handling, customs supervision and ground connections, and freighter and belly cargo transfer at the same hub, which reduces damage and delay from repeated flight changes. For cargo that must be distributed quickly worldwide, the transit density at Hong Kong is a clear advantage.

Capacity flexibility. During e-commerce promotions, peak shipping and concentrated project cargo, Cathay Cargo can adjust the passenger-freighter mix, release belly space and arrange charters to add capacity, easing space shortages on a single route and keeping Chinese exports moving.

Booking through an agent in China

The usual booking path for mainland shippers is: the shipper compiles package count, weight and dimensions, commodity and shipper and consignee details and sends a booking request to us; we check availability and frequency at the Cathay Cargo Hong Kong hub and issue a capacity confirmation and rate; the shipper, or a ground agent we work with, completes tender, weighing and loading at the mainland receiving point or at Hong Kong airport.

For cargo transiting Hong Kong, the mainland leg can be flown from a mainland freighter point into Hong Kong, or the cargo can be trucked direct to Hong Kong airport on a South China service. At destination the local ground agent handles collection and delivery. We handle documentation, capacity confirmation and exception tracking, so the shipper does not have to deal separately with several operators in Hong Kong and on the mainland.

At booking the shipper provides package count, weight, volume, commodity, shipper and consignee details and the transit time required; dangerous goods, temperature-controlled and outsize cargo need the corresponding compliance documents and handling instructions. On receipt of the request we quote the rate and departure time against Cathay Cargo frequencies and availability, and once confirmed we book and file the air waybill. After tender we provide tracking and exception alerts so that the export moves to plan.

Other specialist services

Perishable cold chain. For fruit, seafood, flowers and pharmaceuticals, Cathay Cargo provides temperature-controlled loading and priority transit, which suits Chinese perishables to Southeast Asia, Oceania and Europe.

Dangerous goods and outsize cargo. The nose door of the Boeing 747 freighter takes aviation materials, vehicles and machinery that are over-length or oversize, and compliant classes are handled under the dangerous goods rules.

Charters and wet lease. For peak e-commerce promotions, project cargo and concentrated export demand, Cathay Cargo can provide charter capacity and dedicated space plans.

Sustainable aviation fuel option. For exporters with ESG disclosure requirements it offers a lower-carbon product using SAF.

High-value and valuable cargo. For precision instruments, luxury goods and high-end electronic components, Cathay Cargo provides priority loading, priority transit and full monitoring, reducing the risk of dwell and damage in transit.

E-commerce and express solutions. Using high-frequency passenger belly flights and the distribution capability of the Hong Kong hub, it carries cross-border e-commerce parcels and fulfilment replenishment, with products graded by transit time to suit concentrated shipping during promotions.

Network map: from China to the world

The map is centred on Hong Kong International Airport and shows the long arcs of the Cathay Cargo network to mainland China, Southeast Asia, Europe, North America, South Asia, the Middle East and Oceania. The arcs indicate direction, not actual flight paths; actual points and schedules follow the carrier's published timetable.

For Chinese shippers the value of the network is that mainland cargo can connect at Hong Kong to the main consumer and industrial markets without arranging separate direct capacity from the mainland to several overseas hubs. Long-haul freighters carry bulk and intercontinental distribution, regional routes and mainland points carry collection and consolidation, and the two form a closed loop at the Hong Kong hub.

FAQ