Cathay Pacific returns to Rome with new opportunities for trade partners.
New business prospects for tourism operators
After the forced suspension during the pandemic, Cathay Pacific is reintroducing flights between Hong Kong and Rome. As of 5 June, the company officially resumed the route with three weekly frequencies during the summer season, offering new business prospects for tourism operators.
“This double Italian gateway allows travellers greater flexibility”
"We have a historical link with Rome, where we have been flying since 1986. Starting from here is a return to our roots for us,' said Lavinia Lau, chief customer and commercial officer of the Cathay Group, in Italy for the take-off of the first flight. Lau added that the route to Rome complements the daily flights already operating to Milan, creating a combined offer that will attract both leisure and business traffic. "This double Italian gateway allows travellers greater flexibility, with the possibility of open-jaw itineraries, inbound on one city and outbound on the other.”Good signals from the market
The prospects are already encouraging: according to booking data for July and August, the load factor of flights to Rome has already reached 90%. A result that confirms the interest of the Asian market for Italy, also driven by events such as the Jubilee, which is attracting significant flows from Hong Kong, the Philippines and South-East Asia. "The most popular Asian destinations for Italian travellers are Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Bali and mainland China. Hong Kong, as a strategic hub, allows efficient
connections to the entire Asia-Pacific region,” said Lau.
Targeted expansion strategy
Cathay Pacific is committed to a global expansion plan, announcing the opening of 16 new destinations by 2025, including Munich, Dallas, Adelaide, and Brussels from August, for atotal of 100 destinations by the end of June. To support this growth, the Cathay Group has allocated HKD100 billion for investments in fleet and services, including new Boeing 777-9, Airbus A330neo and A350 freighter aircraft with the aim of improving the customer experience and strengthening operational efficiency. "Cathay is a unique company. Although we are part of China, because we are based in Hong Kong, we have a global outlook that sets us apart from purely Chinese or Western companies,” said Lau.
Focus on the trade: tools and support for agents
Particular attention is being paid to the trade. Cathay Pacific has recently updated the cxagents.com portal which supports travel agents with content, booking tools and a platform dedicated to group bookings. Cathay Pacific's return to Rome is a new opportunity for trade operators, who can count on a premium product to satisfy customers looking for quality, flexibility and strategic connections to Asia. "Connecting Rome and Hong Kong means facilitating tourism, cultural and economic exchanges between two dynamic realities. We strongly believe in the potential of this route and in the contribution it can make to the relaunch of Italian tourism.”
