Cathay Cargo sees another strong month of cargo results in May 2026, riding the growth wave driven by robust demand across key Asian trade lanes and continued strength in specialist freight categories.
During the month, the carrier handled 150,089 tonnes of cargo, up 10.5 per cent on May 2025. The positive results were witnessed across a number of key performance indicators demonstrating the resilience of the airline’s cargo business in the face of ongoing uncertainties in global trade markets.
During May, Cathay Cargo’s Available Freight Tonne Kilometres (AFTKs) rose by 6.1% year-on-year, reaching 1.31 billion, while Revenue Freight Tonne Kilometres (RFTKs) increased by 6.7% to 783.1 million. The airline also recorded a modest improvement in cargo load factor, which climbed 0.3 percentage points to 59.8%.
This strong monthly performance helped to ensure a solid start to the year with Cathay Cargo carrying a total of 724,158 tonnes of freight during the first five months of 2026, up 8.4% compared with the same period in 2025.
Over the same period, AFTKs grew by 4.5% to 6.39 billion, while RFTKs increased by 5% to 3.77 billion. Cargo load factor also improved slightly, rising 0.3 percentage points to 59%.
According to Lavinia Lau, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer at Cathay, the airline’s cargo division continued to benefit from strong market fundamentals throughout May.
“Our cargo business continued to perform well in May, with year-on-year growth underpinned by robust demand on key trade lanes, particularly between the Chinese Mainland and Southeast Asia,” Lau said.
The company noted that demand for its specialist cargo solutions played a significant role in supporting growth. Shipments of semiconductors and servers moving across Asia and towards destinations in the Americas generated strong activity for the carrier’s Cathay Expert product.
At the same time, pharmaceutical exports from Europe to Mainland China continued to support volumes transported through the airline’s Cathay Pharma solution, reinforcing the growing importance of healthcare logistics within the carrier’s network.
Looking ahead, Cathay Cargo remains cautiously optimistic about market conditions through June.
“Turning to June, we expect air cargo demand to remain resilient, and we will continue to monitor market developments closely,” Lau added.
Alongside its operational performance, the airline also announced further investments aimed at strengthening its long-term cargo capabilities.
Cathay has placed an order for two additional Airbus A350F freighters, bringing its total commitment for the next-generation freighter aircraft to eight units. The airline will also add an Airbus A330P2F freighter under a leasing agreement, with the aircraft set to be operated by Air Hong Kong.
According to Lau, the fleet expansion reflects Cathay’s continued commitment to supporting Hong Kong’s role as one of the world’s leading air cargo gateways.
“We were also pleased to announce an order for two additional Airbus A350F freighter aircraft, bringing our total commitment to eight. Together with an additional leased Airbus A330P2F freighter to be operated by Air Hong Kong, Cathay Cargo will continue to invest and strengthen Hong Kong’s status as a world-leading international air cargo hub,” she said.
The latest figures demonstrate how Cathay Cargo continues to capitalize on demand generated by Asia’s manufacturing and technology sectors, while pharmaceutical logistics remain an increasingly important source of growth.
Despite wider market challenges and rising operational costs affecting the aviation industry, the carrier’s performance during the first five months of 2026 highlights the resilience of its cargo network and the sustained demand for reliable air freight services across global supply chains.
