Cathay Pacific Airways today released traffic figures that show passenger numbers and cargo tonnage edging up as the airline moved into the 2006 summer peak.

In July, the airline carried a total of 1,512,638 passengers, up 4.8% on the same month last year. The passenger load factor for July was up to 84.6% on a capacity growth of 6.6%. Looking at specific routes, Europe had the biggest capacity growth, measured in available seat kilometres - 16.1% up on the same month in 2005.

Cargo carried in July rose by 1.8% on the same month last year to 97,970 tonnes, pushing ahead of a 1.0% rise in capacity. The cargo load factor for the month rose marginally, by 0.8 percentage points to 68.7%.

Cathay Pacific General Manager Revenue Management, Sales & Distribution Ian Shiu said: "We are pleased with the performance on the passenger side of the operation in July. The load factor was high as the summer holidays kicked in, and long-haul routes to Europe and North America were again particularly strong. Our front-end business held up better than expected in the holiday season, helping to keep yield up. The outlook for August and September remains positive, though external factors ranging from typhoons to security threats could impact on our business."

Cathay Pacific Director & General Manager Cargo Ron Mathison said: "Demand out of Hong Kong and China to long-haul freight destinations remained strong in July, but loads on most routes back to Hong Kong were soft due to strong competition in the market. The month's performance was buoyed by the launch of a new route to Chennai in India, via Mumbai, and the entry into the fleet of the second of six Boeing B747-400BCF "Boeing Converted Freighters".

Cathay Pacific Airways
Corporate Communication Department