Cathay Cargo boosts capacity to three US locations and Mexico

Cathay Cargo has added more transpacific freighter capacity between its home hub at Hong Kong International Airport and Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and Mexico, as part of its plans to move more technology-related shipments during the peak season.

Jonathan Ng, head of cargo hub operations & development at Cathay, had announced last month that transpacific freighter capacity would be added to cater for growth in semiconductor and data-centre equipment shipments but did not specify where.

Commenting further on the transpacific routes involved, Cathay Cargo told Air Cargo News: “The additional freighter capacity to the Americas is from peak season – operating from (September) through to the first to third week of December 2026 – with five flights per week between Hong Kong and Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and Mexico.”

Ng explained: “Cargo demand has remained positive over the summer, particularly due to growth in semiconductor and data-centre equipment shipments from across Asia to our transpacific markets.”

“The first priority is getting the balance between demand and capacity right,” Ng added. “We’re adding additional freighter capacity to the Americas from this month to meet current demand and support further growth during the peak.”

As well as adding intercontinental capacity, the airline will also expand its regional freighter capacity with the addition of an extra aircraft.

A leased Airbus A330 passenger to freighter (P2F) aircraft, which was converted in Shanghai, will also shortly be handed over to Cathay Pacific subsidiary Air Hong Kong to meet regional demand for general cargo during the fourth quarter.

“The leased A330P2F operated by Air Hong Kong is planned to provide additional regional capacity in the fourth quarter, providing us with greater agility to build our regional cargo network and making more options available for our freight forwarder partners.”

The addition of capacity to the Americas mirrors rapid demand growth on the trade lane this year.

Figures from IATA show that in August, demand between Asia and North America was up by 13.2% year on year, the seventh consecutive month of growth.

The corridor has this year benefitted from surging demand for data centre-related demand, while e-commerce volumes have been gradually recovering following the US decision to end its de minimis exemption for low-value goods in May 2025.

China’s e-commerce exports to the US also saw an initial dip but have since recovered to stand 23% higher year on year in July 2026 – albeit from a lowered base, according to consultant Xeneta.