Cathay Pacific recently celebrated the launch of its nonstop passenger flights between Seattle‑Tacoma International Airport and Hong Kong International Airport with five‑times‑weekly service.
The new route is the only nonstop flight connecting the Pacific Northwest and Hong Kong, the carrier said in a news release. The service marks a resumption of flights that were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cathay Pacific is the last pre-pandemic carrier to return to Sea-Tac and kickstarts several new international offerings from the airport this year, according to a separate release from the Port of Seattle, which operates the airport.
“Direct service from Seattle to Hong Kong is back, and we couldn’t be more thrilled,” Sam Cho, Port of Seattle commissioner, said in the port’s release. “This connection opens exciting opportunities for both business and leisure travelers, strengthening ties between our regions and expanding access for our community.”
The inaugural flight from Hong Kong to Seattle on March 30 was operated by a special-edition Airbus A350 aircraft featuring Cathay’s heritage-inspired livery. The design incorporates the airline’s “lettuce leaf sandwich” stripes and 80th-anniversary mark. The Hong Kong–Seattle service is operated on A350-900 aircraft, offering fully flat beds in business class, plus premium economy, and economy seating.
Lavinia Lau, Cathay chief customer and commercial officer said the Seattle service highlights ties between two global centers of innovation, culture, and commerce.
“Seattle’s spirit of creativity and entrepreneurship mirrors Hong Kong’s own energy, making this route especially meaningful for us,” Lau said in Cathay’s release, adding that the route enhances connectivity for travelers and reinforces the airline’s role in supporting Hong Kong’s position as a leading international aviation hub. As a Oneworld Alliance co-founder, Cathay Pacific enables passengers to connect in Seattle to/from Alaska Airlines’ extensive network across North America.
Sea-Tac currently offers 58 service options to 36 international destinations on 30 different airlines, the port said. Including Cathay Pacific, six new services are scheduled to debut this year, pushing the airport past 60 international services.
Cathay’s Hong Kong schedule includes departures from Seattle on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 11:45 a.m., and departures from Hong Kong the same days at 1:25 p.m.