Cathay Pacific’s journey from single post-war plane to aviation powerhouse – SCMP archive
Por Miguel Enriquez — South China Morning Post – News feed
Advertisement Cathay Pacific Hong Kong On This Day Cathay Pacific’s journey from single post-war plane to aviation powerhouse – SCMP archive
As Cathay Pacific celebrates 80 years in the skies, we look at how SCMP covered the company’s growth and milestones
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Miguel Enriquez Published: 1:15pm, 28 Sep 2026
Eighty years ago, former World War II pilots Roy Farrell and Sydney de Kantzow registered Cathay Pacific Airways in Hong Kong.
Operations began with a single, converted Douglas DC-3 nicknamed “Betsy” which initially flew much-needed goods between Australia and post-war Shanghai.
Today, the airline operates a fleet of 180 aircraft and, together with its budget arm HK Express, transported 37 million passengers in 2025.
In this On This Day article, we chart the company’s history through SCMP’s archive photos and coverage.
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