Cathay Pacific Airways today released traffic figures for the month of August 2002 showing strong year-on-year growth in both cargo volumes and passenger numbers.

In August 2002, Cathay Pacific carried 1,143,520 passengers, a 10.9% increase over the same month last year. The passenger load factor for August was 82.1%, virtually unchanged from July 2002.

Cargo's strong performance continued with 74,222 tonnes carried in August, up from 72,343 tonnes in July this year and 27.2% higher than in August 2001.

Cumulative figures for the year to date show a 5.3% increase in the number of passengers and a 17.8% increase in the volume of freight carried, compared to the same eight-month period last year.

Cathay Pacific General Manager Revenue Management, Sales & Distribution Ian Shiu said: "The good news is that our passenger numbers and load factor for August remained firm as a result of good demand for leisure travel. But yields have still been lower than we'd like during the peak summer period because fewer people have been flying in the front end."

Cathay Pacific General Manager Cargo Kenny Tang said: "Strong exports through Hong Kong to North America, Europe and intra-Asian trade, are still driving growth in our cargo business as we move into the peak season."

Full August 2002 figures are on the following page.

* AHK European routes are included and traffic statistics figures are restated from July 2001 for comparison purpose.

Cathay Pacific Airways
Corporate Communication Department