Cathay Pacific today released robust traffic figures for May 2006 with passenger numbers up and cargo growth in line with expectations for the time of year.

In May, the airline carried 1,338,712 passengers, an 8.8 percent increase over the same month last year, while the flight load factor averaged 76.2 percent, half a point higher. Actual revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) flown increased 12.1 percent ahead of a corresponding 11.4 percent increase in capacity measured in terms of available seat kilometres (ASKs). Leisure travel was boosted by public holidays in Hong Kong, China and Japan.

The airline carried 94,950 tonnes of freight in May, up 5.3 percent year-on-year and ahead of a 5.0 percent increase in capacity, measured in terms of available cargo/mail tonne kilometres. Continued high demand out of Hong Kong led to a new company uplift record for a 747-200 freighter of 115.132 tonnes net, set on a flight from Hong Kong to Chicago.

Cathay Pacific General Manager Revenue Management, Sales & Distribution Ian Shiu said: "May was a good month all round. Business travellers were busy and leisure bookings, usually a little soft after Easter, got an extra boost from the 'Golden Week' holidays."

Cathay Pacific Director & General Manager Cargo Ron Mathison said: "Our new uplift record shows we are really packing our planes on long-haul fights out of Hong Kong, in particular on those bound for the East Coast of the US. Yet fuel prices remain a major concern with still no sign of a near-term correction."

Full May 2006 figures are on the following page.

Cathay Pacific Airways
Corporate Communication Department