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Air Hong Kong, a Cathay Group all-cargo carrier, signed a lease agreement for an Airbus A330P2F converted freighter
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Move follows Cathay Cargo’s order last month for two additional A350F freighters
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The new aircraft will boost cargo capacity and support Hong Kong’s position as the world’s busiest air cargo hub
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New aircraft will mainly fly Air Hong Kong freighter routes to mainland China and regional destinations for Cathay Cargo
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The aircraft is scheduled to join Air Hong Kong’s fleet in the fourth quarter of 2026 under a long-term lease from Air Transport Services Group
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Cathay Cargo separately operates 20 Boeing 747 freighters plus passenger belly capacity across 100+ destinations
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Air Hong Kong currently operates an all-A330 freighter fleet of 14 aircraft, used for DHL Express services
Air Hong Kong, the all-cargo carrier under the Cathay Group, has signed a lease agreement for an Airbus A330P2F converted freighter, the group announced on June 19, marking its second freighter fleet expansion in as many months.
The move follows Cathay Cargo’s announcement in May of a firm order for two additional Airbus A350F freighters, as the group moves to reinforce its cargo capacity and strengthen Hong Kong’s position as the world’s busiest air cargo hub.
READ: Cathay Cargo orders 2 more Airbus A350F freighters
The new aircraft will be deployed primarily on Air Hong Kong freighter routes to the Chinese Mainland and other regional destinations on behalf of Cathay Cargo. Air Hong Kong, the first all-cargo freighter airline based in Hong Kong, currently operates an all-A330 freighter fleet of 14 aircraft, which it uses to provide express cargo services for DHL Express.
The aircraft will join the fleet in the fourth quarter of 2026 under a long-term lease with Air Transport Services Group, Inc. The plane is owned by ATSG’s leasing subsidiary, Cargo Aircraft Management.
“We look forward to welcoming this newest addition to our fleet, which will enable Air Hong Kong to leverage the opportunities presented by the Three-Runway System at Hong Kong International Airport to expand our presence in the region,” Air Hong Kong chief operating officer Agatha Lee said.
“This marks an exciting chapter for Air Hong Kong as we expand our business to support the ongoing development of the Hong Kong international aviation hub,” Lee said.
Cathay Cargo separately operates its own fleet of 20 Boeing 747 freighters, in addition to utilizing belly capacity on the Cathay Group’s passenger network, which serves more than 100 destinations worldwide.
“The Cathay Group is strengthening our freighter fleet to support Cathay Cargo’s capacity growth plans, strengthen our network, and reinforce Hong Kong’s status as the world’s leading air cargo hub,” Cathay director of cargo Dominic Perret said.
“The additional capacity offered by Air Hong Kong’s latest A330 freighter will complement Cathay Cargo’s future A350F freighters, providing us with greater agility to build our regional cargo network and making more options available for our freight forwarder partners,” he said.
The latest lease forms part of a broader fleet renewal and expansion drive by the Cathay Group, which has committed well over HK$100 billion to investments in its fleet, cabin and lounge products, and digital innovation. The plan includes orders for more than 100 narrowbody, regional widebody, long-haul widebody and large freighter aircraft.
READ: Cathay cargo volume rises 12% in Oct, passenger traffic up 21%
