Cathay Pacific Group is considering parking some aircraft outside of its Hong Kong base to protect them from the city’s hot and humid summer.
The company tells Cirium it is looking into this “for operation management reasons”.
“At the present time our aircraft are parked at Hong Kong International Airport, primarily in remote bays, taxiways and other operational areas made available at the airport,” it says.
“We are exploring alternative locations beyond Hong Kong’s humid summer climate that can provide appropriate conditions for our aircraft while they are not flying. This is a prudent decision from an asset management perspective.”
Cathay did not specify the number of aircraft it is considering parking outside Hong Kong. Reuters, citing an anonymous source, reported on 6 July that Cathay is examining plans to store more than 50 widebodies in drier locations like Dubai and Australia. Cirium has not independently verified that report.
Cathay tells Cirium the aircraft being considered for transfer overseas are from “a number of different fleets” within the group. Its airlines include mainline carrier Cathay Pacific Airways, regional arm Cathay Dragon and budget carrier HK Express.
It adds: “Meanwhile, as previously announced, we will be conducting a comprehensive review of our operations and making a recommendation on the optimum size and shape of the group to the board by the fourth quarter of this year.”
