Cathay Pacific axes flights to select airports in some of world’s busiest cities, including London, New York and Washington
- Seven loss-making routes scrapped from airline’s schedule with internal memo referring to move as permanent
- Gatwick, Newark, Washington, Seattle, Maldives, Brussels and Dublin all cut as Cathay battles to stay afloat
An internal memo described the move as permanent, with an insider saying all of the services were losing money.
However, a source said while the axed routes would definitely not return next year, they could be reinstated once global travel returns to normal. Industry officials have forecast that might not be until 2024, and long-haul routes would recover last.
The decision means the airline will no longer fly to the US capital, as well as Newark airport near New York, and London Gatwick. Flights to Seattle, and Dublin have also been cut, as has Cathay’s service to Male airport in the Maldives.
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Tracking the massive impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the world’s airline industry in early 2020
Cathay is still flying to London Heathrow, and JFK in New York, which are the two busiest airports in those cities.
